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)