New party declared, another one looms

A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Hartono Mardjono, a formerly influential figure of the Crescent and Star Party (PBB), declared on Friday a new political party, the Indonesian Islamic Party (PII).

The Muslim-based party was formed following an internal dispute in PBB between Hartono, a deputy chairman of the party, and then party chairman Yusril Ihza Mahendra.

Meanwhile, a former member of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), Dimyati Hartono, said on Friday he would publicly launch his new party, the Indonesia-Our Motherland Party (PITA), in several weeks.

Hartono Mardjono denied that the establishment of his party was caused by a split in PBB resulting from preparations for the general election in 2004.

"The establishment of the party was initiated and supported from the grass roots. The notarial documents of the party, for example, have already been signed by representatives from several provinces," he said on the sidelines of the party's unveiling at Hotel Indonesia here.

The ceremony was held on Friday, which also marked the Islamic New Year.

Dozens of people, including representatives from several provinces, were present at the party's declaration. Many of those in attendance were former members of the Masyumi Party, a coalition between Muhammadiyah and Nadhlatul Ulama that existed from 1940 to 1950.

Masyumi was a high point for Muslim political activists, with the party succeeding in coalescing the country's two most prominent Muslim organizations and securing the most votes in the country's political constellation of the 1940s.

Also present at the ceremony were Dimyati Hartono and Sri Bintang Pamungkas, the chairman of the Indonesian Uni-Democratic Party (PUDI).

The new party uses a unique symbol, which combines the symbols of three other Muslim-based parties -- the Justice Party (PK), the National Mandate Party (PAN) and PBB.

The PII symbol depicts the Sun (PAN) and a crescent and star (PBB) over a black background similar to that used by the Justice Party.

"We are trying to unite the vision of those Muslim-based parties," Hartono said.

Hartono also said he would not resign from the House of Representatives and the People's Consultative Assembly, despite having been elected as a legislator from PBB.

"I am representing people, my constituents. I am not a representative of the party," he said.

Meanwhile, Dimyati said his new party would be publicly declared on April 7 at the Senayan Convention Center.

With Pancasila as its foundation, Dimyati vowed that his party would revive the spirit of nationalism in the country.