Ciganjur group to meet again in Yogyakarta

SURAKARTA, Central Java (JP): The much-awaited second meeting of a group of leading politicians known as the Ciganjur four is scheduled to take place next week at the Yogyakarta residence of chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN) Amien Rais.

"I think we will hold the meeting on July 17 or July 18," Amien said. The agenda for the meeting was yet to be decided, though it would most likely focus on the candidate for the presidency, he said.

The first meeting of the Ciganjur group took place last November. Amien, Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid of the National Awakening Party (PKB), Yogyakarta monarch and governor Sultan Hamengkubuwono X and Megawati Soekarnoputri of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) were brought together by university students.

Ciganjur refers to the South Jakarta residence of Abdurrahman, also chairman of the largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama.

Amien said all the Ciganjur figures would be invited to the second meeting, despite reports that PDI Perjuangan executives had urged Megawati not to attend.

Controversy has arisen over the gender of the next president, seen by many as a move to hinder Megawati from the presidential race.

Amien said he was unsure whether all four participants at the original gathering would meet again.

"I have just returned from Singapore, and Gus Dur is leaving for the U.S. for medical treatment."

Amien made his comments while in Solo on a visit to his mother, Sudalmiyah Suhud Rais, who was recently admitted to Solo Muhammadiyah Hospital for hip surgery.

He dismissed rumors that the Ciganjur group had split up, following the cancellation of the scheduled second meeting last weekend.

Amien denied the move was related to private interests, saying technical problems led to the postponement.

"The figures were busy with their own concerns."

He acknowledged however that the Ciganjur group now had a different role to play.

Prior to the general election, the group was considered to represent most Indonesians, and its opinion was taken into account by a special session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) last November, he said.

The group issued the Ciganjur declaration, which included a motion to phase out the military's dual role.

Amien said power in the post-election period had shifted from the hands of university students and pressure groups to the House of Representatives (DPR) and the People's Consultative Assembly.

He said the second meeting would have a limited purpose, but that it would nevertheless provide input to the democratization process.

"At least it would serve as a get-together session," Amien said.(har/05)