PKB wins lawsuit over Matori

JAKARTA: The Jakarta High Court has ruled in favor of the National Awakening Party (PKB)'s chairman Alwi Shihab and advisory chairman Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid against the party's former chairman Matori Abdul Djalil, a lawyer said on Wednesday.

The court ruled that the dismissal of Matori, who is the Minister of Defense, and PKB legislator Abdul Kholiq Ahmad was legitimate.

Matori and Kholiq, who had set up a splinter group, were also prohibited from using the party's flag, symbols and anthem.

The party's lawyer, Suharmono, said he had heard the court's verdict on Tuesday.

Former president Abdurrahman had dismissed Matori and Kholiq due to their support in the Special Session of the People's Consultative Assembly that impeached him two years ago.

The party's congress then installed Alwi, the former minister of foreign affairs, as the party's chairman. -- JP