New party to fight for equal rights for all

JAKARTA (JP): A new political party was announced yesterday, this one promising to fight for equal rights for every group and segment of society as mandated by the 1945 Constitution.

Partai Kebangsaan Merdeka (Free Nation Party), registered as the 55th political party at the Ministry of Home Affairs, encompasses what it calls the "nine pillars" of society.

It called a media conference yesterday to give the public a glimpse of who's who in the party.

Peter P. Sumbung, chairman of the Association of Indonesian Christian Intelligentsia, heads the party's working committee and represents the Christian community.

Others lending prestige to the new party include Oka Diputra (Buddhism), Ketut Suryana (Hinduism), Zaini A Noer (Islam), Theo Bella (Catholicism), Suyakto (Chinese-Indonesian).

Also present was Permadi, not to be confused with the famed soothsayer, representing the Javanese denomination belief, Upi Tuti Sundari representing women's interests, and Zakaria Sumaweles, a former Golkar member.

"We want to eliminate the dichotomy of majority-minority or superior-inferior in society," Peter Sumbung told the media conference at Patra Jasa Hotel yesterday.

Fighting for equal rights and clean government are among the party's mission based on Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution.

The party will be formally declared by its founders at Monumen Proklamator on Jl. Proklamasi, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday Aug. 18 to coincide with the enactment of the 1945 Constitution.

The party will also announce its leadership outline then. (01)