Islamic political parties want to put Gus Dur to the test

Islamic political parties want to put Gus Dur to the test

SEMARANG (JP): The United Development Party (PPP), one of the
eight Muslim-based parties allied in the "axis force", said on
Tuesday the group would have to "test" Abdurrahman Wahid over his
expressed willingness to be its presidential candidate.

PPP deputy chairman Karmani said here the faction had not
named its candidate yet. He also expressed doubt in the sincerity
of Abdurrahman, also known as Gus Dur, to be affiliated with the
group as the latter had often declared his support for Megawati
Soekarnoputri.

"If Abdurrahman seriously wishes to be nominated... his
willingness has to be tested first as he is still supporting
Megawati as the next president," Karmani said.

"Personally, I doubt that Abdurrahman sincerely wishes to be
nominated (by the alliance) as president. Therefore, Abdurrahman
must be questioned further," Karmani said.

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan)
won the June elections and secured 154 of 462 elected seats at
the House of Representatives, while Golkar came second with 120
seats. The two parties' candidates, Megawati and incumbent
President B.J. Habibie, are considered the front-runners in the
presidential race. This prompted some Muslim-based parties, led
by Amien Rais of the National Mandate Party (PAN), to ally
themselves and look for an alternative candidate.

Abdurrahman, founder of the National Awakening Party (PKB) and
chairman of Indonesia's largest Islamic organization, Nahdlatul
Ulama, agreed on Saturday to Amien's nomination of him.

Karmani said that up to the present, PPP, which won third
place in the poll with 59 seats, had yet to decide whether to
support Abdurrahman, Megawati or B.J. Habibie.

"We (PPP) can even name our own candidate. There are lots of
other figures (suitable) to lead the country," he said, adding
that further discussion between members of the Muslim faction on
the matter would be held soon.

In Purwokerto, the chairman of the Central Java branch of PKB,
Noer Iskandar Albarsany, said his party had not decided yet
whether to support Abdurrahman's nomination by the axis force.

"We are a bit confused over how to respond to Abdurrahman's
statement. We wanted to nominate him before for president, but he
refused, so we have supported Megawati until now," Noer said.

PKB would soon discuss the matter at a meeting in mid-August,
he said.

"We need to be suspicious of this nomination (by Amien's
group)... it may be just a political trick from the axis force.
Usually the Islamic fundamentalist groups oppose Abdurrahman, but
now suddenly they are nominating him."

Offer

In Jakarta, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, the chairman of the Crescent
Star Party (PBB), which is also a member in the axis alliance,
hinted his support for Habibie, citing the latter's openness to
hold political negotiations with the group.

"Megawati has offered nothing. On the other hand, Habibie was
active in lobbying the 'axis force'," Yusril told Antara during a
discussion on the alternative presidential candidate.

Yusril disclosed that about a month ago he was informally
invited and informed by Habibie of his plan to have a Cabinet of
28 ministers once he is elected president.

Yusril said the 28 ministers would be composed of 8
technocrats and 20 figures from political parties.

The political party figures would consist of six from PDI
Perjuangan, five from Golkar, four from PPP and two from PBB, he
said. Yusril did not specify the remaining three.

He also reiterated the axis force must not name its own
candidate, because then it would no longer be an axis camp, but a
third group. The alliance, instead, should wait to see how Golkar
and PDI Perjuangan would approach it for support.

"Now comes the matter of picking the parties which come first
with realistic negotiations," Yusril observed, reiterating the
axis force had yet to choose which presidential elect to support.

"Perhaps Abdurrahman will be appointed. Who knows?" Yusril
added.

Law expert Harun Alrasid, however, opposed Yusril's view.

"The 'axis force' must name its presidential candidate to run
against Habibie and Megawati," Harun told Antara. "Surely it (the
naming of a candidate) would be a precondition for the 'axis
force' to win (in the presidential race planned for November)."

PBB deputy chairman Hartono Mardjono agreed with Yusril.

"The Muslim faction, which has about 20 percent of the vote,
will play a decisive role in the next presidential election,"
Hartono said in Surakarta, Central Java, on Monday.

Meanwhile, in Bandung, noted sociologist Selo Sumardjan
reiterated that the country needed a consistent leader who was
acceptable to people from all walks of life.

The figure must be able to unite this country and lead the
people out of the crisis, Selo said during a discussion here on
Tuesday. (43/45/har/edt)