Legislators asked to summon Yusril

JAKARTA: National Awakening Party (PKB) leaders asked on Friday House of Representatives (DPR) Commission II on legal affairs to summon Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra to clarify the reasons behind the rejection of PKB's registration for the 2004 general election by his office.

The call was made following a meeting of the PKB executive board with House Speaker Akbar Tandjung on Wednesday.

PKB leaders -- Rodjil Ghufron, Yusuf Muhammad, and Ida Fauziyah -- met with Commission II leaders Teras Narang and Ferry Mursyidan Baldan on Friday to pressure the commission to summon Yusril for a hearing.

The Supreme Court declared last month the PKB faction led by Alwi Shihab as the legitimate party. But a rival camp, led by Matori Abdul Djalil, has filed a request for a review to the ruling.

In a move that surprised Alwi's camp, the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights rejected his party's registration for the 2004 elections. The ministry said that the registration would not be processed, pending the result of Matori's appeal.-- JP