PKB confirms dissolution of its factions

JAKARTA (JP): The National Awakening Party (PKB) confirmed on Tuesday the dissolution of its factions in the House of Representatives and the People's Consultative Assembly, though there was some dissension on this point.

In a statement read out at the end of its executive meeting late on Tuesday, the party fell short of declaring its recognition of Abdurrahman Wahid as president.

"We support Abdurrahman Wahid to continue leading the second part of the reform struggle by upholding morals, the Constitution and democracy," the statement, signed by meeting organizers Arifin Junaidi and Yusuf Muhammad, read.

The party also expressed its concern over the revival of the authoritarian and undemocratic New Order regime.

The statement said the dissolution of its factions was effective until party executives convened a congress scheduled for August next year.

PKB also supported the dismissal of Matori Abdul Djalil as party chairman. Then president Abdurrahman Wahid, who is the chief of the PKB's advisory council, on Saturday dismissed Matori, who is an Assembly deputy speaker.

The meeting, which ended at about 11 p.m., was held at the PKB headquarters in Kuningan, South Jakarta, in response to the decree issued by then president Abdurrahman to suspend the Assembly and the House.

However, cracks were evident in the party, with acting chairman Alwi Shihab admitting there were differences of opinion among PKB members regarding Abdurrahman's decree and the dissolution of the party's factions.

"There are some differences in response to the decree issued by Gus Dur. Some of us agree that we must dissolve our factions following the issuance of the decree, while some others disagree. But I can't reveal our stance right now, as it is still being discussed," said Alwi, who is also the foreign minister, referring to Abdurrahman by his nickname.

PKB deputy chairman Zaenal Mahmud hinted that the party's faction at the Assembly was considering attending the MPR Special Session on Wednesday, which will elect a new vice president.

He said the decision was not final, but the issue had become the main topic of discussion at the leadership meeting.

On the dissolution of the Assembly and the House, Zaenal said the majority of the executive meeting participants considered the Special Session unlawful.

Meanwhile, the secretary of the PKB faction at the House, Abdul Cholik Ahmad, said the dissolution of the party's factions at the Assembly and the House as earlier announced by PKB deputy secretary-general Chotibul Umam Wiranu was Chotibul's personal opinion and not the party's official stance.

"The PKB executive board has yet to issue a formal statement on the dissolution of both factions," Cholik said at the Assembly building.

Earlier, the PKB factions stated that the Special Session, which ousted Abdurrahman from the presidency and appointed Megawati as his successor, was unconstitutional and therefore they did not recognize its results. The factions also supported the issuance of the presidential decree on the suspension of the Assembly and the House.

"As a consequence of the decree, the PKB factions have been dissolved," Chotibul had said.

Cholik said the PKB factions had not been dissolved, and would therefore continue working as usual.

On the lineup of the new Cabinet, Cholik said the party had yet to discuss the issue as the party was still concentrating on monitoring the ongoing Assembly Special Session.

He, however, indicated that PKB would be pleased if President Megawati Soekarnoputri included some of its members in her Cabinet. (tso)