Fresh internal rift beleaguers PKB
Fresh internal rift beleaguers PKB
JAKARTA: With general elections fast approaching, the Muslim-
based National Awakening Party (PKB) must deal with another
internal rift, following the party's decision to disband its
branch executive board in Bondowoso, East Java early this month.
According to the party's central executive board members, PKB
Bondowoso had failed to settle a conflict over the formation of
its board of leadership in early 2002.
However, Achmad Fawaid As'ad, former advisory board chairman
of PKB Bondowoso, challenged the decision, saying that he would
file "legal and political revenge."
"No more PKB," he told reporters on Monday, suggesting that
the disbandment of PKB Bondowoso was connected to rumors that he
had supported the dismissal of former president Abdurrahman "Gus
Dur" Wahid in 2001.
He said several political parties, such as the United
Development Party and Golkar, had invited him to join them.
Fawaid heads an influential Islamic boarding school in
Bondowoso, which boasts 13,000 students.
Earlier, PKB was also rocked by an internal rift over Gus
Dur's plan to dismiss party secretary general Syaifullah Jusuf.
After a prolonged polemic, the party decided to retain Syaifullah
until after the legislative election in April 2004.
PKB, which was founded by Nahlatul Ulama in 1999, split into
two in 2001 over Gus Dur's impeachment for incompetence.
NU, the country's biggest Muslim organization, claims to have
around 40 million members across the country. --JP
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Scene-House-bill
House delays justice bill talks
JP/4/scene18
House delays justice bill talks
JAKARTA: A House of Representatives (DPR) committee agreed on
Monday to delay the deliberation of the Justice Bill until after
the Idul Fitri holiday.
The holiday will fall on Nov. 25 and 26, but lawmakers will
commence their holiday earlier, from Nov. 24 until Nov. 29.
Sjaiful Rachman, a committee member, said that the lawmakers
agreed to delay the meeting because they were too busy with their
duties.
The committee was supposed to continue the bill's deliberation
on Monday and Thursday.
Sjaiful of the United Development Party (PPP) faction said
that the lawmakers had agreed to continue the deliberation early
next month.
He added that committee members pledged to finish the
deliberation before the end of the session scheduled for Dec. 19.
As soon as the justice bill is finished, lawmakers will
discuss four bills -- State Administrative Court, Supreme Court,
State Prosecutors, and Public Court. -- JP