PPP needs new leader to avoid a breakup
PPP needs new leader to avoid a breakup
JAKARTA (JP): A noted political observer warned that the
United Development Party (PPP) may fall apart in the next
election if it fails to elect a new leader in its congress next
month.
Abdurrahman Wahid said yesterday that the PPP's loyal
supporters would abandon the party and cast their votes with the
Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), or simply shun the general
election in 1997, if PPP retains Ismail Hasan Metareum.
Re-electing the incumbent would sow dissension among
grassroots supporters who want to see the party making progress
in the next election, he said.
"Many PPP supporters voted for the party in the past by their
own choosing. It is possible that they will move to PDI if they
are dissatisfied," he said. He added that Golkar, the ruling
political organization, would not be considered by the supporters
because of their disagreement with their policies.
Abdurrahman, affectionately known as Gus Dur, believes that
the Moslem-based party needs a leader who will emerge from the
grassroots level and carry popular support. "He must also get to
the top through his own ability," he said.
He took the example of how Megawati Soekarnoputri was elected
PDI chairperson after a long and arduous journey, given the fact
that she was not the candidate supported by the government. "But
people were very satisfied when she was finally elected."
Abdurrahman, however, said that a drop in the number of votes
given to PPP in the next election in 1997 would not affect the
national stability.
PPP is the second largest party after Golkar, while PDI is the
third.
Abdurrahman echoed the statement issued over the weekend by a
vocal legislator from PPP, Sri Bintang Pamungkas, who said that
Ismail Hasan and secretary general Matori Abdul Djalil should
step down because they have failed to turn the party into an
organization that is independent of the government.
Populist leader
Both Ismail Hasan and Matori also happen to be the strong
contenders for the chairmanship election.
The party is now under pressure to find a more populist leader
to match the charisma of Megawati who was elected PDI chairperson
in December.
Ismail Hasan currently appears to have the upper hand in the
run up to the election, to be held at the party's congress here
at the end of August. He has already secured the support of
leaders of many provincial boards and also, according to some
political analysts, the support of the government and the Armed
Forces.
Matori is depending on the support of the Nahdlatul Ulama of
which Abdurrahman is the chairman. It is by far the largest of
the factions in the party whose leaders have made it known of
their intentions to wrest the party's leadership.
Abdurrahman said that if the government really stays away from
the congress, Matori could win the election given the fact that
he has strong support from the party's branches throughout the
country.
He also said that there might be a possibility that the
government intended Indonesia to be a two party system and by
throwing its support to Ismail Hasan, they would succeed in the
destruction of the PPP.
He said that if this is what the government actually intended,
and it then actually materialized, the power between PDI and
Golkar would at least be balanced. "As a political observer, I
agree with this," he said.
Commenting on the recent statement by ABRI spokesman Brig.
Gen. Syarwan Hamid that Ismail Hasan was regarded as the one who
could cooperate with both the government and the Armed Forces,
Abdurrahman believes that such statement could not be regarded as
representing the military. "I know that it is only one side of
the Armed Forces," he said.
He said that whoever emerged as the new chairman would be the
one given the blessing of the government. "In Indonesia, the
person who wins the government's support wins the election. But
for Megawati the case was different. I admire her," he said.
Abdurrahman believes that PPP's congress would be tense, but
says that it will proceed smoothly. (par)