Muslim-based parties mull forging of coalition

Muslim-based parties mull forging of coalition

Tiarma Siboro, Jakarta

Two Muslim-based political parties are toying with the idea of
pairing up for the presidential election, a move that could
further narrow down the running mate choices for Golkar's
presidential candidate Wiranto, says a party leader.

Thursday's meeting between the National Awakening Party (PKB)
and the United Development Party (PPP) may well spur on other
Muslim-based parties to join the fledgling coalition, says PKB
deputy leader Mahfud M.D.

"We held a meeting to seek an alternative candidate pairing
and expect such a move will crystallize in the next two or three
days," Mahfud said after a meeting held at a residence of PPP
party leader Hamzah Haz, the incumbent vice president in Jakarta.

The meeting came just a week before the deadline for political
parties to register their presidential and vice presidential
candidates.

"Principally, we are still fighting for the political rights
of Abdurrahman Wahid, but we have also discussed other
possibilities, including whether or not to propose a candidate in
the upcoming election," he added.

"A Hamzah Haz-Solahuddin pairing is among the alternatives,"
Mahfud said referring to the younger brother of former president
Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid. The coalition, he said, might oppose
the whole process and not field any candidates.

Solahuddin, also a deputy chairman of the National Commission
on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), was earlier asked by Golkar to run
with Gen. (ret) Wiranto, after Hasyim Muzadi, chairman of the
country's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU),
snubbed Wiranto for the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
(PDI-P). Most PKB members are linked to the NU, but Hasyim is not
directly affiliated with any party.

Seven parties, including Golkar, PDI-P, the Democratic Party,
PAN and PKS are eligible to nominate candidates in the
presidential election but other parties that won less than 16
seats in the House in the April 5 legislative election can make a
coalition to nominate a candidate.

Mahfud said he believed more parties, such as the Prosperous
Justice Party (PKS) and Reform Star Party (PBR), would sign on
with the PPP-PKB coalition.

The nearly blind Gus Dur may be declared ineligible to run
since the General Elections Commission (KPU) has issued a decree
for passing a comprehensive health exam, including an eye exam.

PKB and Gus Dur filed a complaint with the Supreme Court for a
judicial review of the controversial decree.

Hamzah Haz promised Thursday to publicly disclose the PKB-PPP
pairing of choice soon after the Supreme Court reviewed the
decree.

Solahuddin or "Gus Solah" as he is popularly known said it
might not be wise to accept Wiranto's offer.

"I received many "sms" (short message services) questions as
to why I was considering Wiranto. Some even lodged their
protests. At present, I don't have any answer on whether or not I
will run in the election, pending a more firm decision from PKB,"
Gus Solah said.

He added that those at the meeting agreed that the pairing
should comprise people with strong character and integrity and
they should not necessarily come from the military.

"Civilians also have integrity and a strong character," Gus
Solah said.

Wiranto has been indicted by a UN-sponsored court in Dili on
charges of human rights abuses in East Timor in 1999, but it is
unlikely he will be extradited to face trial there.