PPP marks anniversary in conflict
PPP on the brink of separation after 29 years
The Jakarta Post, Surabaya/Jakarta
Indonesia's third largest party, the Muslim-based United Development Party (PPP) which celebrated its 29th anniversary in Surabaya on Saturday, is close to breaking up.
Its chairman Hamzah Haz, who is also Vice President, refused demands for an earlier leadership reshuffle to accommodate up-and-coming younger activists. His rivals, spearheaded by preacher Zainuddin MZ, vowed to break away and form a splinter group called PPP Reformasi some time this month.
Zainuddin was absent from the celebrations. The preacher is one of the party's co-chairmen.
Ade Hidayat, one of his confidantes, said Zainuddin refused to attend the revelry at Surabaya's Gelora Pancasila Stadium after Hamzah insisted on postponing the plan for a national leadership congress from 2003 to 2004.
Under the party's constitution, the next congress to elect a new PPP leader is scheduled for 2003. Ade refused Hamzah's claims that the postponement was the wish of most of PPP's regional branch leaders.
"It's not true. It's only for Mr. Hamzah's own political benefit in the face of the next general elections in 2004," he said.
Hamzah denied he intended to "kill democracy" by delaying the national congress, insisting that the congress was postponed as requested by regional leaders.
The absence of Zainuddin, an accomplished orator, disappointed thousands of fanatical supporters of PPP, who packed the sports stadium in Surabaya, particularly Hamzah and charismatic Muslim leader Alawi Muhammad from Java's Madura Island.
Alawi was once an outspoken party leader during the 32-year rule of former dictator Soeharto.
Donning PPP's attributes, dressed in the party's green colors and carrying banners, the supporters shouted appeals for unity among their leaders.
"We want Hamzah Haz and Zainuddin MZ united for Ka'bah (the party's symbol). We wait for your broad-minded spirit, otherwise PPP will collapse," one banner read.
When addressing the anniversary rally, Hamzah claimed that the internal bickering was engineered by the party's political enemies, whom he did not name.
He called for reconciliation with his rivals, saying the public are tired of seeing endless conflicts among members of the nation's political elite.
"To have different views is fine but it should not become the seed of disintegration," he said. "A leader should set a good example for his members," Hamzah said.
In a futile attempt for reconciliation, Hamzah hosted a meeting with Zainuddin in Jakarta last week.
Enlivening Saturday's revelry was the admission of several former military and government officials from Golkar Party, youth leaders and artists into PPP. They received PPP membership cards.
The new members include former information minister Yunus Yosfiah, former attorney general Andi Muhammad Ghalib, chairman of the National Committee of Indonesian Youths (KNPI) Adhyaksa and former executive of the Crescent Star Party (PBB) Eggy Sudjana, who is known as a militant Muslim figure.
Other public figures who joined PPP were pop singer Emilia Contessa and artist Nazar Amir, as well as Muslim cleric Syaiful Islam of former president Abdurrahman Wahid's National Awakening Party (PKB).
Also present at the celebrations were chief security minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Minister of Cooperatives Alimarwan Hanan, deputy Supreme Advisory Council (DPA) chairman Ahmad Bagja and senior PKB legislator Taufikkurahman.
The rally was marred by a minor disturbance when supporters stampeded fencing at the tightly guarded stadium. However, the situation was swiftly kept under control.