PAN reveals plans for running the country

JAKARTA (JP): The National Mandate Party (PAN) launched on Monday a plan of action for the first 100 days of the new government, should it win the June 7 elections and run the country.

Foremost among its programs is the establishment of a coalition Cabinet comprising various social and political groups.

"The Cabinet will comprise people who are skilled in their fields of expertise, upright, without past shortcomings and with a clear commitment to the interests of the people," said deputy chairman Abdillah Toha at a fund-raising lunch attended by chairman Amien Rais and other party executives.

The party also plans to form a smaller Cabinet with 20 ministries to ensure efficiency and solid coordination, he said.

The party wishes to spur a national reconciliation process, and, together with the people, find resolutions to problems in regions beset with calls for separatism such as Aceh, Irian Jaya and East Timor, Abdillah said.

In addition, the party wishes to gradually reduce the Armed Forces (TNI) involvement in politics and the economy, and restore public trust in the military. It promises to place the police force under the Ministry of Home Affairs, while the position of Armed Forces (TNI) commander would be placed under the minister of defense.

The party envisions a system that will activate the economy and which is oriented toward the interests of the people to restore national and international confidence in Indonesia, "which is non-existent now", Toha said.

"President B.J. Habibie's government feels this (lack of confidence), which is why he often looks hesitant and why one unexpected policy is very often hastily replaced by yet another unexpected policy."

He criticized the current policy on state-owned enterprises as "selling good assets and buying bad assets".

Meanwhile, three Muslim-based parties -- the United Development Party (PPP), Nahdlatul Ummat Party (PNU) and the Muslim Community Awakening Party (PKU) -- agreed on Monday to form a coalition in the elections.

Antara quoted party executives as saying they formed the coalition to beat the 30-million strong Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) -based National Awakening Party (PKB) in the elections.

PKB is chaired by Matori Abdul Djalil but its founder and driving force is prominent Muslim scholar and NU chairman Abdurrahman Wahid. Abdurrahman is also the PKB's presidential candidate.

"I deplore the NU leader's statement that PKB is the NU members' party. NU must be politically neutral," PPP leader Hamzah Haz, who is also investment minister and long-time member of NU, told the news agency.

PKU leader Yusuf Hasyim told Antara PKB had rejected the coalition offer.

"I have contacted PKB leaders but they refused to join the coalition for various reasons," said Yusuf, who is the uncle of Abdurrahman Wahid.

Details of the coalition will be disclosed on Tuesday, the news agency said.

Meanwhile, a clash between supporters of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and PPP in Yogyakarta on Sunday left at least six people injured.

The incident erupted when three motorcycles carrying PDI Perjuangan supporters met with PPP supporters also holding a procession in the streets.

The clash was halted following the intervention of locals, Antara said, adding that the injured, all PDI Perjuangan supporters, were taken to a nearby Muslim hospital.

Violence between political parties has been on the rise in the run up to the general election, which will be contested by 48 parties.

Although electoral campaigning officially commences on May 19, many of the parties have been holding street convoys and rallies. (byg/har/swe)