Group of PPP activists starts up new foundation
Group of PPP activists starts up new foundation
JAKARTA (JP): A group of members of the United Development Party (PPP) yesterday announced that they had established a foundation which would take an active part in socio-economic and political activities but would stay out of the way of the party.
Speaking to reporters at Sahid Jaya Hotel, H.J. Naro and other fellow-founding members of the foundation, which they call "The Jan. 5, 1973 Foundation", said it would "explore, accommodate and develop ideas within society to achieve national goals."
The name of the foundation refers to the day on which the PPP was founded as a fusion of four Islamic political parties: Nahdlatul Ulama, Parmusi, PSII and Perti.
The speakers said the foundation was initiated on Dec. 29, 1994.
"We have no intention of becoming a 'rival' of the PPP, even though organizationally we have no links with the party," he said.
Naro said they would seek, instead, to convey the public's aspirations to the existing political parties: Golkar, PPP and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) as well as to other institutions, including the government.
The foundation's board consists of Naro, as chairman; Ali Imran Kadir and Thaheransyah Karim, as deputy chairmen; Mardinsyah, as general secretary; and Abdi S. Kesumanegara and Djauhari Syamsuddin, as secretaries. All are widely known as long-time supporters of the former PPP chairman.
Many of the board members are those who failed to be elected to the PPP's top posts during its national congress last year.
Naro said the foundation would focus its activities on social education, management consultation, businesses and legal aid.
However, it did not yet have plans for the near future, he said.
Asked whether the foundation would be involved in politics, Naro said, "Everyone, not only foundations, have the right to politics".
Naro said the foundation would seek to accommodate and convey "broader" issues than did the PPP.
"What the foundation expresses will be for the national benefit, not only for the PPP," he said. He added that everyone, regardless of political affiliation, was welcome.
Naro is known as an outspoken critic of PPP chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum's policies. Ismail won his second term at the recent congress.
Ismail's first term started in 1989 after he eclipsed Naro, who did not enjoy the government's endorsement. Naro apparently fell from grace with the government after he nominated himself for national vice president in 1988. (pwn)