KNPI's East Java chapter faces disintegration

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)