New party declared, another one looms

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.