New NU-based political party registered at justice ministry

New NU-based political party registered at justice ministry

JAKARTA: In an attempt to preserve its presence in the
country's political arena following the prolonged internal
leadership dispute in the National Awakening Party (PKB), party
officials confirmed on Tuesday the establishment of PKB
Indonesia, its alternative political vehicle for the 2004 general
election.

"Today, we register PKB Indonesia at the Ministry of Justice
and Human Rights," said Yahya C. Staquf, deputy secretary-general
of PKB Kuningan, the PKB faction led by Alwi Shihab.

"We will use it to channel our political aspiration if the PKB
leadership dispute cannot be settled by the 2004 general
election," he added.

He said PKB Indonesia was chaired by KH Ubaidillah Abdullah
Faqih, the son of senior Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) figure Abdullah
Faqih of the Langitan Islamic Boarding School (in Tuban, East
Java), while the post of secretary-general was held by Syaifuddin
Junaidi.

The PKB leadership dispute began in July last year following
the downfall of Abdurrahman Wahid, a key NU figure, from the
presidency.

Abdurrahman, who is also chairman of the PKB's board of
advisors, fired Matori Abdul Djalil as the chairman of the PKB
after he attended the Special Session of the People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR) which removed Abdurrahman as
president. Matori has challenged Abdurrahman's decision, saying
that the authority to install and replace a party chairman rests
with the party's five-yearly congress or extraordinary congress.
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PDI Perjuangan forms campaign committee

JAKARTA: The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan) has formed a campaign committee for the general
election in 2004, deputy secretary-general Pramono Anung said on
Tuesday.

Pramono said PDI Perjuangan would still nominate party
chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri, who is also the President, as
its presidential candidate in the next election.

"In accordance with the decision taken in the party's congress
in Semarang, PDI Perjuangan will nominate Megawati Soekarnoputri
as its presidential candidate," Pramono told reporters after the
party's weekly meeting chaired by Megawati.

The committee, which will commence working as soon as
possible, will be tasked with drafting strategy, consolidating
party members and raising the necessary funds for the upcoming
campaign.

"PDI Perjuangan's budget will be ruled in line with the new
electoral law, which will be deliberated soon," he said.--JP

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Samudera asks Komnas HAM to probe Garuda chairmanship case

JAKARTA: Samudera Sukardi, the elder brother of state minister
for state-owned enterprises Laksamana Sukardi, urged the National
Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) on Tuesday to probe
whether or not his basic human rights were violated when he was
denied the Garuda directorship at the last minute.

Samudera said after a meeting with commission members that
being the elder brother of Laksamana should be no reason for
denying him the post of Garuda's president director.

"It was not my will to be born as Laksamana's brother, who
turns out to be a minister. As a human being, I'm entitled to a
decent living and to develop my career," said Samudera, currently
the director of Garuda subsidiary P.T. Abacus.

The government appointed Indra Setiawan as Garuda's new
president director last Monday, sidelining the strongest
candidate Samudera.

Minister of Transportation Agum Gumelar told Samudera last
week that his appointment letter had gone missing and that his
installation had been postponed indefinitely.

Samudera said Laksamana had invited him and his wife
officially last Wednesday to attend his installation on Friday,
but the ceremony was canceled without a satisfactory explanation.

"At 5 p.m. on Friday, a deputy from the state ministry for
state enterprises asked me to withdraw my candidacy and offered
me an ambassadorial post in Japan," he said at the Komnas HAM
headquarters.

"Had I been told that I was not qualified for the post because
I was a brother of Laksamana, I would have not undergone the fit
and proper test," he said.

Komnas HAM members B.N. Marbun, Bambang W. Suharto and Soegiri
assured Samudera on Tuesday that the commission would ask the
Office of the State Ministry for State Enterprises about the
requirements and process of the fit and proper test to find out
whether or not Samudera had received unfair treatment.

"We deem the cancellation as inappropriate ... the government
seems to have sacrificed a professional to portray an anti-
nepotism image," Marbun said.

Bambang added that the treatment handed out to Samudera set a
bad precedent for government's campaign against corruption.

"I assure you that none of the prevailing regulations forbid
siblings to hold posts in state institutions," Bambang said. JP