KNPI's East Java chapter faces disintegration

SURABAYA (JP): The East Java chapter of the Indonesian National Youth Committee (KNPI), a politically well-connected umbrella organization of various youth groups -- is facing disintegration after one member abandoned it while seven others have threatened to do the same.

The Indonesian Nationalist University Student Movement (GMNI) declared yesterday it was pulling out of the KNPI out of disappointment over the chapter leaders' failure to heed member organizations' aspirations in their congress in Pandaaan last week.

The seven other youth groups which have threatened to resign were Fatayat, Ansor Youth and IPPNU which are affiliated to Indonesia's largest Moslem organization Nahdlatul Ulama; the Indonesian Christian Youth Movement (GAMKI); Kosgoro Youth, which is affiliated to the dominant Golkar; the Association of Moslem Students (HMI); and the Indonesian Catholic University Student Union.

In a statement signed by chairman Dedy Hermawan and secretariat Arif Wibowo, the East Java branch of GMNI called on their leaders at the national level to pull out of KNPI to assert its independence, strengthen its vision and clarify direction.

The congress of the KNPI East Java chapter last week elected Dossy Iskandar from the Pemuda Panca Marga branch as its new chairman, and nine others as members of a council in charge of establishing the full lineup of the chapter.

The dissenters alleged that the elected people were influenced by a local official, Tony Sunarto, the secretary of the Pasuruan regency administration.

Dedy said the KNPI -- which was established in 1973 by 13 youth groups but whose membership has grown to 30 today -- is no longer an association of youth groups.

"GMNI has been treated as a mere accessory," Dedy said. "We no longer see the need to waste our energy and thoughts on KNPI."

He said the KNPI had lost its sharpness in dealing with contemporary political issues. "The organization is no longer sensitive and able to respond to public problems such as poverty, land appropriation, labor plights, corruption and others," he said. "The KNPI is no longer critical."

Most of the elected leaders refused to comment on the resignation of GMNI and the threat by seven other youth groups. Among the new leaders was secretary Ario Widjanarko, the son of Surabaya Mayor Sunarto Sumoprawiro.

Only M. Mirdasy, a member of the council of nine, agreed that KNPI had lost its ability to absorb member groups' aspirations because of the strong pressure from the local government.

"KNPI needs to reassert its independence, and avoid protracted problems," said Mirdasy from the Muhammadiyah Moslem organization. (nur)