President to open PKB congress in Surabaya

SURABAYA (JP): Final touches were being made on Saturday as participants anxiously awaited the arrival of party founder President Abdurrahman Wahid who will open the first congress of the National Awakening Party (PKB) here on Sunday.

The provincial capital was adorned with PKB flags and symbols and hundreds of civilian militias in black uniform were seen on numerous corners.

The militias are members of PKB's Garda Bangsa militia and NU's civilian guards tasked with securing the congress.

PKB Secretary-General Muhaimin Iskandar confirmed on Sunday that Gus Dur, the President's popular nickname, would open the congress as planned.

"Gus Dur will open the congress at Tambak Sari stadium," Muhaimin, who is also deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, said.

The congress will start at 8 a.m. with a mass prayer attended by thousands of PKB supporters, including hundreds of noted ulemas of the largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU).

PKB was established by five executives of NU two years ago and officially declared by Abdurrahman from his residence in Ciganjur, South Jakarta.

The importance of the party since its establishment is reflected in the scheduled presence of Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri, chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), and several Cabinet ministers at the opening of the six-day congress.

Several political parties' chairmen, including the National Mandate Party chairman Amien Rais (PAN) and Golkar Party chairman Akbar Tandjung are also slated to attend.

Many also expect that the attendance of these figures could mark an opportunity for a "political reconciliation" meeting between Abdurrahman, Megawati, Amien and Akbar.

The second-day of the congress will be highlighted by an accountability speech by the PKB executive body and responses from provincial chapters.

At least three commissions have been organized to formulate various issues.

Lively discussions are expected to occur in Commission A which is assigned to discuss party regulations. There is expected to be debate here on whether the party's chairman will be directly elected by the congress participants or by the party's legislative body (Dewan Syuro) as currently stated in its basic regulations.

Several executives from provincial chapters have threatened to walk out if the chairman is not directly elected.

The final results of this debate are expected to be finalized on Wednesday while the election of the party's legislative body is to be held the next day. (jun/nur)