Ministers stay away from PCPP initial congress
Ministers stay away from PCPP initial congress
YOGYAKARTA (JP): The Association of Intellectuals for Pancasila Development (PCPP) opened its inaugural congress here yesterday without the presence of a single cabinet minister.
The opening ceremony proved anticlimactic due to the extensive media coverage drawn by the group since the announcement of its establishment last July with ringing endorsements from a number of senior government officials.
Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S., who was scheduled to give the keynote address to open the congress, failed to turn up. Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono and Minister of Defense and Security Gen. (ret.) Edi Sudradjat also failed to appear, although the organizers remained hopeful until the last minute, delaying the opening to wait for their arrival.
Yogyakarta Governor Paku Alam VIII, who was asked to open the congress instead of Yogie at the last minute, also stayed away, citing poor health, Antara reported.
The task of opening the congress was left to Moehono, one of the three men who founded the association.
The few VIPs present included Gen. (ret.) Soerono, a former cabinet minister who has been named chairman of PCPP's advisory board, businessman Soekamdani Sahid Gitosardjono, and senior East Timorese statesman Lopez da Cruz.
When its establishment was announced to the public three months ago, PCPP was widely seen as providing an alternative forum for the scholars who have stayed out of the other associations of intellectuals, whose memberships are based on religion.
Several top cabinet ministers, including most notably Edi Sudradjat, Sarwono Kusumaatmadja and Siswono Yudohusodo, were among those who hailed the organization.
Some political analysts even viewed PCPP as having the potential to counter the growing influence of the Association of Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI), which is headed by State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie.
Both Sarwono and Siswono, despite endorsing the PCPP, declined to chair the new organization when they were approached by the founders who were seeking to give PCPP a stronger national stature.
Founded by staff lecturers of the University of Jenderal Sudirman in Purwokerto, Central Java, the PCPP has enlisted a large number of members and supporters.
A total of 514 delegates representing all 27 provinces are attending the congress which ends today.
The delegates are scheduled to elect a chairman before the congress concludes today. Given the refusal of cabinet ministers to chair the organization, the congress appears likely to elect one of the founders, Moehono, or Rubiyanto Misman.
Rubiyanto yesterday put on a brave face after learning that the cabinet ministers invited to the congress decided to stay away, saying that their absence would in no way affect the proceedings.
"The PCPP congress will continue with drafting its programs and appoint the executive board," he said. (mun/har/emb)