PPP denies exodus of supporters in E. Java
PPP denies exodus of supporters in E. Java
JAKARTA (JP): Executives of the East Java chapter of the
Moslem-based United Development Party (PPP) has denied reports
that 454 local supporters have jumped ship and pledged their
allegiance to Golkar.
Ahmat Dhofier, the secretary of the Bondowoso branch of PPP,
said that a majority of the party supporters, who reportedly
declared their new affiliation at a gathering on Thursday, were
tricked by certain individuals displeased with the party.
"They went to that gathering thinking there was going to be a
reading of the Koran led by Nahdlatul Ulama (A moslem
organization), but it turned out to be the reading of a statement
proclaiming a switch to Golkar," Ahmat was quoted by Antara as
saying in Bondowoso on Saturday.
Press reports said that while attending a Golkar gathering to
commemorate a historical event last month, several PPP members
read a statement announcing they were switching their allegiance
to Golkar.
Ahmat contended that the "ceremony" was organized by two-
former PPP supporters, H. Anshori and P. Sun Bahrawi, who held
personal grudges against the party.
Ahmat claimed that most of the PPP members present were
unaware of the planned reading and had not switched to Golkar.
"Even if there are people wishing to jump the ship, it
certainly wouldn't be as many as that," he said.
He then lamented the practice of hijacking party supporters at
a time where "harmonization of politics" was needed, with the
general election just around the corner.
Some 120 million Indonesians will be eligible to vote in the
general election next year.
Regardless of whether the reports of exodus were true, this is
the second time this year that PPP voters have publicly switched
sides.
Earlier last month as many as 2,000 PPP supporters crossed
over to join the Golkar camp in Sukabumi, West Java. Some reports
put the figure at 3,000 people.
Until the last general election in 1992, PPP with its Moslem
grass roots support was Golkar's main political opponent. This
position is being challenged by the Christian-nationalist
Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), which has been undergoing
reforms and becoming increasingly appealing to voters.
Some observers have said that PPP, formerly known for its
docility and low-profile approach in politics, has recently begun
to respond to the challenge by introducing fresh maneuvering. For
instance, some PPP chapters last year threatened to boycott the
general elections unless the government guarantees a fair and
honest process.
Golkar, PPP and PDI will compete for 425 of the 500 seats of
the House of Representatives; the remaining 75 seats will be
allocated to the Armed Forces automatically.
PPP currently holds 62 seats in the House while PDI holds 56,
and Golkar 282 seats.
PPP chief Ismail Hasan Metareum branded the "hijacking"
tactics as unethical. He recently expressed concern about certain
political organizations which are willing to go so low as to
accept "defectors" through unethical means. (mds)