Faisal threatens to quit PAN over party platform

Faisal threatens to quit PAN over party platform

JAKARTA (JP): National Mandate Party (PAN) Secretary-General
Faisal Basri warned that he and several other leading members of
the party would quit if a party congress beginning Thursday
amends its platform to include the religious term "faith and
devotion."

"We will fight to get rid of the term. If we fail, as a last
resort we will quit," insisted Faisal, who is also a noted
economist.

He called on the party to maintain its pluralistic platform,
saying that terms like "faith and devotion" are only for human
beings, not political parties.

"There is no 'faith and devotion' party. We know that there is
a Muslim party, a Nationalist Party or a Communist Party," he
said.

He suggested that certain groups within PAN were trying to
make the platform more sectarian since the party, with its
pluralist platform, only succeeded in gaining seven percent of
the popular vote during the general election.

"As a new party, we are proud that we got seven percent. It's
a good result," he said.

Faisal contended that PAN would only mitigate itself and
become a tiny party if it changed its pluralist and nationalist
platform.

Meanwhile, the head of PAN's international relations
department, Bara Hasibuan, urged those who wanted to drastically
change the party platform to just leave the party.

"They should set up a new sectarian party," Bara said.

He admitted that with the congress due to begin in Yogyakarta
on Thursday, it seemed almost certain that PAN would veer into a
more Islamist-leaning party.

"They're just waiting to knock the hammer to officially accept
the term," he said.

Both Bara and Faisal acknowledged that executives of the
Nation Awakening Party (PKB) have offered to accept PAN members
if they decide to leave the party.

"We respect their offer and will consider it. But we will
first fight for PAN," Faisal remarked.

Faisal also confirmed that he had nominated himself as
chairman to challenge incumbent Amien Rais during the congress.

"If Amien were not nominated, there would be more candidates,
and I would not nominate myself as chairman. I'm just trying to
avoid a single candidate as chairman of the party," he said.

Meanwhile in Yogyakarta, the final touches were being made to
welcome the 1,500 guests and participants expected to attend the
convening of the congress which will be inaugurated at the
Sheraton Mustika Hotel on Thursday night by Amien Rais himself.

Some 850 delegates will attend the four-day congress which is
estimated to cost Rp 1.5 billion.

To help celebrate the event, about 5,000 PAN supporters will
be joined by parade of traditional three-wheeled becak pedicabs
and horse cart andong around the city.

In Makassar, South Sulawesi, the party chapter on Wednesday
officially nominated Amien Rais to lead the party with A.M. Fatwa
as next secretary general.

"We will fight hard so the two can be elected at the
congress," Ramli Haba, PAN secretary in South Sulawesi, said.
(30/swa/edt/jun)