Internal rift within beleaguered PPP widens

Annastashya Emmanuelle, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The internal rift within the beleaguered United Development Party (PPP), mainly between the veterans and the newcomers, is widening as evidenced by fresh demands from the party's youth wing to move its congress up to 2003.

The youth wing, represented by Lukman Hakim Syaifuddin, insisted on Tuesday that PPP's central board should move forward its congress to 2003 so as not to violate the party's platform.

However, PPP's secretary general Alimarwan Hanan coolly responded to the demand on Wednesday, saying that the party bore no resentment over differences voiced by the youth wing.

"Such an aspiration is fine. Nevertheless, any charges must have a legal basis," Alimarwan said, referring to the youth wing's intention to take its demands to court.

Supporters of PPP chairman Hamzah Haz, who wish to see Hamzah -- also the country's vice president -- remain in power, have decided to hold the next party congress in 2004, the same year as the country's general elections.

The central board's insistence on postponing the party's congress until 2004 sparked frustration among many PPP members, and led noted Muslim cleric Zainuddin MZ to declare the establishment of a splinter party -- PPP Reformasi -- on Jan. 21.

In the party's 29th anniversary celebration last week, Hamzah urged the splinter group to reunite and strengthen the Muslim- based political party.

He, however, did not mention any intention from his side to reconcile the differences over the party's congress.

There has been speculation that the dispute between Hamzah and Zainuddin was the consequence of a power struggle mainly over the issue of drafting the legislator line-up for the 2004 general elections.

PPP, which garnered the third highest number of votes in the 1999 general elections, is expected to fare poorly in the upcoming elections due to the split as well as the ongoing internal rift with the youth wing.

Alimarwan, however, denied any further splintering from PPP, claiming that the provincial chapters would remain with the Hamzah version of PPP.

"In my visits to the provinces, I see no indication of a split in PPP," Alimarwan said.