PPP should avoid open conflicts, says Moerdiono

JAKARTA (JP): Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono called on members of the United Development Party (PPP) yesterday to manage their internal bickering so that it doesn't blow up during next month's congress.

Moerdiono met with PPP chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum to discuss the congress that will open late next month.

Metareum later told journalists that Moerdiono urged party members to solve their internal problems in the spirit of musyawarah, or deliberation for consensus.

"If the congress succeeds, then it will contribute to the growth of democracy," Moerdiono was quoted as saying by Metareum.

Moerdiono hoped that as an agent of democratization, PPP possesses the positive characteristics inherent in it, according to Metareum.

The minister also hoped that party members attending the congress exhibit self -control and maturity, Metareum said.

Internal conflict within the PPP mainly centers on the two most dominant of its four factions, NU (Nahdlatul Ulama) and MI (Muslimin Indonesia), which are vying for the chairmanship. Metareum, who is seeking re-election, belongs to the MI fold.

Metareum along with senior party members Matori Abdul Djalil, Zain Badjeber and Ali Kiaidemak, reported to Moerdiono on preparations for the congress and asked for financial assistance.

All three of the country's political groupings, including the dominant Golkar and the minority Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), regularly ask the government for financial assistance. This practice, however, has been widely criticized by political analysts who believe it contributes to the parties' dependence on the government.

"We told President Soeharto once that PPP did not have the funds (to finance the congress)...and asked for presidential assistance or other aid from the government," Metareum said.

"Minister Moerdiono...promised that he would study our request further," he added.

Metareum estimated that the PPP congress, which will last several days during which the new leadership will be elected, would require an estimated Rp 1.5 billion (US$697,000).

Last year, PDI received about Rp 1 billion for its congress, while Golkar, whose membership includes many of the nation's leading business tycoons, spent more than Rp 2.2 billion.

During yesterday's meeting, Metareum asked the government to help PPP make the congress a success.

Conflicts

Commenting on Moerdiono's concern about "potential conflicts" within the party, Metareum said "conflicts are in line with human nature, but PPP will strive to reduce them."

Over the past several months, the Moslem-backed PPP has been rife with speculation and conflicts within the party, following the NU's claim that it intends to snatch the leadership from MI.

However, the party rejected proposals for a meeting between the four factions to put an end to the internal bickering. Two senior members, Mardinsyah and Sofyan Usman, said such talks would only worsen the friction because the conflicting sides would fight for their factions instead of for the good of PPP.

Rivalries involving politicians from the four factions that make up the PPP -- NU, MI, Syarikat Islam and PERTI -- are mounting as the party braces for its five yearly congress. (swe)