Partindo to join 2004 election

BOGOR, West Java: A group of politicians loyal to the philosophy and the teachings introduced by the country's founding president Sukarno declared on Saturday establishment of the Indonesian Party (Partindo) 1931.

"Partindo is established in an attempt to promote the philosophy and teachings of Sukarno and participate in a national movement to bring the country out of the multi-dimensional crisis," said chairman Soetomo Martopradoto during the ceremony held at the Sera Nusa Hotel in Bogor, 60 kilometers south of Jakarta.

Soetomo, who spent six years in jail during the early years of the rule of Soeharto, Sukarno's successor, said Partindo would promote Marhaenism, Sukarno's assessment on socio-nationalism and socio-democracy and the state ideology Pancasila.

He said the party had a connection with Partindo, which was established by Sartono, a Sukarno loyalist, on April 30, 1931 following the arrest of Sukarno by the Dutch colonial rulers in 1929. Sukarno previously chaired the Indonesian Nationalist Party (PNI).

Soetomo said that the party had registered its existence with the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights and would be ready to participate in the 2004 general election.

Soetomo, who was Labor Minister from 1964 until 1966 under the presidency of Sukarno, claimed that Partindo already had 20 provincial chapters, with 120 branches, nationwide. -- JP