PPP to open congress by flexing political muscle

PPP to open congress by flexing political muscle

JAKARTA (JP): In an apparent show of force, the United
Development Party (PPP) will open its congress at Senayan Stadium
on Sunday morning with expectations for a turnout of at least
150,000 loyal members and supporters.

It will be opened by outgoing chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum,
breaking with the tradition of inviting the nation's president to
do the honors.

The act displays greater self-confidence among party leaders
in seeking to keep a safe distance from the government.

The PPP has been riding high since it challenged the powerful
Golkar grouping and the Armed Forces (ABRI) on the issue of the
military's representation in the House of Representatives at this
month's special session of the People's Consultative Assembly.

Although PPP lost the vote on the motion to remove ABRI's
political privileges, the party's gains in sympathy and new
supporters could bode well for next year's election.

It was also the PPP which insisted that the Assembly issue a
ruling ordering the government to investigate the wealth of
former president Soeharto.

After long playing reluctant second fiddle to the dominant
Golkar, the PPP is now flexing its muscle, hoping to woo back its
traditional supporter base among Moslem voters.

All major roads leading to the Senayan Stadium have been
ringed with the party's green flags.

Party leaders said the congress was expected to endorse the
plan for the PPP to revert to an Islamic party and adopt its
former symbol of the Kaaba, the Moslem holy shrine in Mecca.

Bactiar Chamsyah, secretary of the congress' organizing
committee, explained that President B.J. was originally scheduled
to attend.

"After considering various matters, including security
reasons, it was decided that he would not attend the opening
ceremony."

Sunday's opening ceremony will feature seven Moslem preachers
and a performance by the noted Bimbo music group.

"We want to demonstrate that we're still here because many
analysts have dismissed our political chances," Bachtiar said.

PPP will not enjoy a monopoly as an Islamic party. More than
10 of the nearly 100 new established parties which are eying next
year's election have also adopted Islamic names and themes.

PPP's greatest challenges will come from the People's
Awakening Party (PKB), which is associated with the Nahdlatul
Ulama Islamic movement, and the Crescent and Star Party, led by
renowned Moslem intellectuals. Although the National Mandate
Party (PAN) does not style itself as an Islamic party, its leader
Amien Rais retains strong appeal among Moslems.

Many analysts said much would depend on the new PPP leadership
on whether it could mount a serious challenge in the general
election.

On Saturday, the field remained open as Metareum had announced
that he would not contest the chairmanship.

Two old PPP figures, State Minister of Investment Hamzah Haz
and State Minister of Food and Horticulture A.M. Saefuddin, lead
the pack of contenders.

Human rights activist Baharuddin Lopa, PPP deputy chairman
Jusuf Syakir and former PPP chairman Jaelani Naro are considered
dark horses. (byg)