Muslim leaders meet on alternative force

Muslim leaders meet on alternative force

JAKARTA (JP): Four leading Muslim politicians agreed on
Saturday to push toward the presidential election by setting up
an alliance expected to become an alternative to the existing two
camps of Megawati Soekarnoputri of Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and B.J. Habibie of Golkar Party.

National Mandate Party (PAN) Chairman Amien Rais, Crescent
Star Party (PBB) Chairman Yusril Ihza Mahendra, Ummat Awakening
Party (PKU) Chairman Yusuf Hasyim and United Development Party
(PPP) Chairman Hamzah Haz reached the agreement in a closed-door
meeting at the PPP headquarters in Central Jakarta on Saturday.

Antara quoted PBB Chairman Yusril as saying after the meeting
the four discussed the strength of their alliance in facing the
General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly and the
presidential election.

For the time being, the eight Islamic parties which decided in
May a stembus akoord (vote pooling deal) and PAN and PKB have
agreed to join the new camp, Yusril said, adding the door is open
for any other parties wishing to strengthen the grouping further.

The eight were PPP, PBB, Justice Party (PK), Indonesian Muslim
Party (PUI), PKU, Masyumi Party, 1905 PSSII and Nadhlatul Ummah
Party (PNU).

Hamzah Haz said the third, alternative force could play a
dominant role in the presidential election because, together,
they controlled 168 seats out of the 500-seats in the next House
of Representatives.

Amien had earlier named the emerging camp as "central axis."

"This (camp) will be able to defeat both PDI Perjuangan and
Golkar in the presidential election," he told The Jakarta Post in
an interview by phone.

Based on the election results announced by the National
Election Committee, PDI Perjuangan won 154 while Golkar got 120
seats respectively. PDI Perjuangan nominated chairwoman Megawati
as its presidential candidate while Golkar backed incumbent
President Habibie.

Observers believed the establishment of the new camp was a
response to the failure of Ciganjur group in forming an alliance
to face up to Golkar.

Amien, Megawati, Abdurachman popularly known as Gus Dur, and
Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X issued a Ciganjur
communique to block Habibie's nomination for the next president.

Yusril said that the four had yet to discuss their
presidential candidate in the meeting. He hoped the topic would
be discussed in the next meetings.

PKU Chairman Yusuf Hasyim, popularly known as Pak Ud, hailed
Amien Rais for coming out in his support of Abdurrahman's
presidential bid. Amien's stance may help boost Abdurrahman's
chance, he believed, and create further support from among
members of the 30 million-strong Nahdlatul Ulama, which
Abdurrahman chairs.

"The naming by Amien of Gus Dur as a presidential candidate is
an extraordinary thing...," Yusur said, adding that as a NU
member, he fully supported Gus Dur's nomination.

Amien said representatives of PKB and five other Muslim
parties who did not attend Saturday's meeting were expected to
participate in the next meetings.

"Of the most importance is that we share a common perception
that an alternative force is needed for the incoming MPR General
Session," he said.

He denied that parties grouped in the new camp tried were
seeking to stage their own presidential election, in violation of
the procedure in the general session of the People's Consultative
Assembly.

Political observer Arbi Sanit gave thumbs down for the new
camp, accusing the parties involved of seeking to break through
the tight competition between Golkar and PDI Perjuangan by
staging their own presidential campaigns outside of the
recognized procedures. (rms)