President to open PKB congress in Surabaya

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)