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. -- JP
;JP;TAS; ANPAj..r.. Scene-PDIP-Campaign
JP/4/SCENE
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
;JP;BBY; ANPAa..r.. Garuda-chairmanship-probe
JP/4/SCENE
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