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)