PKB, PDI-P vow to work together

PKB, PDI-P vow to work together

JAKARTA (JP): The moderate Muslim-based National Awakening
Party (PKB) and nationalist Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) said they would further their strong
partnership to calm rising regional and sectarian tension.

"Many problems of the nation could be solved if PDI Perjuangan
and PKB cooperate," A. Effendy Choirie, an official from PKB,
said after he and several of the party's legislators met on
Friday with Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri, who chairs PDI
Perjuangan.

Effendy said a strong cooperation between a nationalist party
and a moderate Muslim party would be an ideal pairing.

"A good political environment could be built if we set up
strong cooperation," said Effendi, who sits in the House of
Representatives Commission I.

He explained that ulemas of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) suggested
in a meeting on Thursday night that PKB set up joint
communication posts with PDI Perjuangan.

"The posts, which would be set up across the country, are
aimed at preventing riots by providing an exchange of information
between conflicting parties," he said.

PDI Perjuangan and PKB were the highest and third highest
vote-getters in last year's general election in June.

Megawati and PKB founder Abdurrahman Wahid were the two final
candidates in the presidential election in October.

Christian

Led by its House faction chairman, Taufiqurrahman Saleh, PKB
legislators paid a courtesy call to the Vice President on Friday.

Effendy said that Megawati asked PKB to clarify to the Muslim
public that PDI-Perjuangan was not a Christian party as claimed
by some outside the party.

"Megawati asked PKB to tell Muslims that PDI Perjuangan was
not a Christian party or controlled by a majority of Christians,"
he said.

He said there were incidents where some people refused to
donate to the party because it was considered Christian.

"That's really not right," Effendy remarked.

He said Megawati also complained about the exploitation of
Islamic symbols to incite people to demonstrate in front of the
vice presidential palace.

"They even threatened to occupy this building," he added.

Separately, PKB secretary-general Muhaimin Iskandar said the
party initiated a national awareness among Muslims to stop the
spread of communal clashes.

"We call on all Muslim-based parties, institutions, groups and
society to join the movement and to avoid aggressive activities
which tend to erupt in violence."

"Religious leaders in the capital have been told to soothe the
tension and not get involved in the activities of those who take
advantage of the situation," he said.

Muhaimin, who is also the House deputy speaker, explained that
the movement would be run by the party and NU.

The movement, he said, would form information centers in other
regions to clarify rumors regarding the issue of Maluku.

"The centers would function in anticipation of conflicts," he
added.

Muhaimin conceded that the movement was a reaction to an
earlier mass gathering last week, which called for a holy war in
Maluku's two provinces.

Speaking to journalists at his residence here, he said after
the recent fray in Lombok, there was a high possibility of
violence spreading to other parts of the country, particularly in
places sheltering Maluku refugees. (01/jun)