PPP faces mounting obstacles in regions, delegates say

PPP faces mounting obstacles in regions, delegates say

JAKARTA (JP): As the elites of the United Development Party
(PPP) wrestle over leadership positions at their ongoing
congress, some regional cadres warn that the party must never
abandon its supporters in the outlying areas.

Delegates from Bali, West Nusa Tenggara and Irian Jaya said
separately yesterday that they face mounting obstacles and
challenges in maintaining their existence.

Although most of them are confident that the party will
continue to command the loyalty of its traditional supporters,
they need to mount a better campaign for the next election in
1997.

PPP's support has ebbed significantly in the three elections
since 1977. The party remains strong in Java and Sumatra but is
very weak elsewhere in Indonesia.

PPP holds one seat in Bali's provincial council, and none in
West Nusa Tenggara whereas it held 13 in 1997.

Delegates to the PPP congress from these provinces however
said they are still keeping the faith.

They said loyalty is the most important element in uniting the
party's followers and supporters.

They said however that the PPP leadership which will be
elected at this congress could play a greater role in creating an
atmosphere more conducive to the party's development in the
regions, including recruiting the young generation.

Eddy Sunyoto, chairman of the Badung branch in Bali, said a
correct approach to the young people would go a long way in
winning the hearts and minds of Indonesia's youths.

PPP has been able to maintain its existence in the
predominantly Hindu province because young Balinese respect the
party and the programs it offers, Sunyoto said. "We will continue
to exist in Bali."

Strongholds

PPP's main strongholds in Bali are Jembrana, Singaraja and
Denpasar.

Sunyoto said most leadership positions at PPP's branch offices
in Bali are filled with people from the young generation.

They were recruited through religious activities, he said.
"But we don't politicize religion to get their support."

M. Noerilyas, secretary for Bima branch in West Nusa Tenggara,
echoed Sunyoto's statement that the party needs leaders who could
keep the party alive.

Noerilyas said that the PPP's main target in the province is
to win back the 13 seats that have been lost in the last three
elections.

He said that PPP support in the region has never declined and
that the party now boasts commissariats in more than 300
villages.

The party lost the seats largely because of electoral fraud,
he said.

Muhaji, chairman of Bali's Karangasem branch, also complained
of widespread cheating in his patch during the general election.
"We caught a security official red-handed tampering with the
ballots," he said. "We also faced intimidation," he added.

Abdul Rasjid Arfan, chairman of the PPP faction at the Irian
Jaya Council, said he had difficulties in recruiting new members
because most people in the province are already affiliated with
the other two political parties.

He said the new PPP leadership should be more aggressive if it
wants to maintain its presence in the province because of the
difficulties it faces. PPP has 10 branches with stronghold areas
in Yapen, Moropen and Serui.

The 65-year-old who was born in Sorong said that young people
in the area have little knowledge about politics. "In election
campaigns, for instance, only the older generation took part," he
added.

He said efforts to open up commissariats in villages were
often hampered by local government officials.

Arfan also said the party's branch had to find its own
campaigners because the central executive board did not provide
them, and this sometimes meant fielding campaigners with little
knowledge of the party's affairs.

Arfan said the party will maintain its existence because it
has loyal supporters. "I am sure that the party will exist. But
our future is in the hands of God," he added. (par)