PAN says it is ready to become opposition party

PAN says it is ready to become opposition party

JAKARTA (JP): The National Mandate Party (PAN) is prepared to
play an opposition role, if it finds the new government unwilling
to undertake total reform.

"We will not hesitate to stand outside the government if it is
a half-reform, half-status quo government, with Golkar (in it)
for instance," Deputy chairman A.M. Fatwa said in a discussion at
The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

He said PAN would not announce the names of parties it would
form coalitions with until the general election result was
announced.

Also present at the discussion were deputy chairmen Abdillah
Toha and K. Sindhunatha and other party executives including Afni
Achmad, M. Emil Samil, Miranty Abidin, Indrawati Sugandi, Rifai
Pulungan, Orian Shaw and Subandrio.

Many political observers have predicted a coalition
government will be inevitable, given that several parties enjoy
equal popular support.

Fatwa said PAN was seeking ways to work together with other
"pro-reform" parties like the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) under Megawati Soekarnoputri and
Abdurrahman Wahid's National Awakening Party (PKB).

"We will try to pick up on some common issues for campaigning.
But further than that, it remains to be seen."

With 48 parties contesting the June 7 polls, many experts have
expressed fears about a possible escalation of violence.

At least two more politically related incidents took place
over the past two days, both in Central Java.

On Wednesday, in Majenang district, Cilacap, 12 Golkar
supporters were injured after a group wearing PDI Perjuangan
attributes allegedly attacked their gathering.

Secretary of Golkar's provincial chapter Sutoyo Abadi said the
mob pelted stones at his men. He said some members of the Golkar
task force guarding the rally were stripped of their clothing.

It was the second incident of its kind after the Purbalingga
incident early last month.

In Pemalang, clashes erupted on Tuesday between supporters of
the United Development Party (PPP) and the PKB, injuring 30 PKB
supporters and damaging 13 houses.

Secretary of PKB's provincial chapter Abdul Kadir, said his
party supporters were attacked with stones and logs on their way
home from a party gathering.

PPP supporters were also injured, he said.

"As Muslim parties, we'd better be peaceful and harmonious.
Why all these clashes?" Kadir said.

In a related development in East Java, Antara reported on
Wednesday that local leaders of PAN, PKB and PDI Perjuangan had
vowed to avoid a campaign style that would trigger violence.

"For campaigning... we must avoid patterns that may trigger
riots," Abdurrohim of PAN was quoted as saying.

He said the parties agreed to tell supporters to take separate
ways should they meet on the streets.

"The Holy Koran teaches us not to become involved in
vandalism, so we must not be trapped into creating violence."

PDI Perjuangan's chairman in East Java Soetjipto, said parties
needed to find ways to achieve violence-free campaigning.

He said his party supporters were following their leader,
Megawati, who was "disciplined, patient and law-abiding".

Secretary of PKB's provincial chapter, Fuad Anwar, said
violence would only harm the lives of poor people.

"We agree to no violence," he was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, in the South Sulawesi capital of Ujungpandang, the
Independent Committee for Elections Monitoring (KIPP) announced
on Wednesday a finding of alleged foul play conducted by a number
of political parties.

KIPP said the infringements included early campaigning and
money politics and occurred in 23 regencies across the province.
(30/har/aan)