PPP chief expects government pressure in upcoming congress
JAKARTA (JP): The chairman of the United Development Party (PPP) says he has detected pressure from outside the party to influence the election of its new leaders.
Ismail Hasan Metareum told reporters on Tuesday during a courtesy call on Vice President Try Sutrisno that he believed the government of President Soeharto would not meddle in the party's affairs.
He said presidential intervention is permitted by 1975 legislation, but only under special circumstances. "I think the President is a democrat that he would not intervene in a congress of a political party."
The suggestions of possible government intervention rekindled memories of the government's unsuccessful attempt to influence the congress of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) last year. At that time, the government moved to prevent the election of Megawati Soekarnoputri, the daughter of former president Sukarno.
The attempt failed but the party had to convene three congresses before Megawati was finally allowed to take the helm of the PDI, the smallest of the three political parties in Indonesia after Golkar and the PPP.
The PPP leadership election appears to be another tough contest with various competing factions within the party already staking their claims for the top post.
The Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), by far the largest of the four factions that make up the PPP, is already sending signals that it wants the chairmanship post which has eluded it's grasp all this time.
PPP is also under strong pressure to elect a popular leader to match the charisma of Megawati and Golkar's Harmoko, with analysts warning that PPP's could be relegated to third position after the next general election in 1997.
Ismail Hasan said that some of the people who are warning about the imminent government intervention may be doing so because they actually want to see that happen. He was referring in particular to the remarks by Abdurrahman Wahid, the chairman of NU.
"It appeared that he has already designed a plan to ensure government's intervention," he said. He added, however, that controversies were normal in the run up to an important gathering like the PPP's congress.
Candidates
The government has played a role in all previous PPP elections. Even if their role was not one of direct intervention, at the very least, their approval was necessary to allow a candidate to move to the top.
PPP has already invited President Soeharto to open its congress, scheduled for Aug. 29-Sept. 1 in Jakarta.
Ismail Hasan stressed that the PPP this time does not need any intervention from outside the party. "We don't need any help keeping order in our own house."
He declined to answer questions about the candidates for the chairmanship post, saying that the nominations would be formally announced at the congress.
Ismail Hasan, who has been accused of being too conservative, has not ruled out running for the post again. Other possible candidates mentioned include his secretary general Matori Abdul Djalil and legislator Hamzah Haz, both from the NU faction.
A number of NU leaders are planning to hold a meeting later this month in Rembang, Central Java, to discuss strategy ahead of the PPP congress.
Asked about PPP's chances in the 1997 election given the rising popularity of PDI under Megawati and Golkar under Harmoko, Ismail Hasan responded that his party will rely more on its organization and program, rather than on individual figures.
"But what is even more important is that the election system itself be fair, not like in past elections," he said. "If we can have a fair election, then, God willing, the PPP can have the upper hand." (emb)