Reconsiliation between Matori and Alwi unlikely

Reconsiliation between Matori and Alwi unlikely

Asip A. Hasani and Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta/Jakarta

As reconciliation with Matori Abdul Djalil's faction looks
increasingly remote, the National Awakening Party (PKB) Alwi
Shihab faction has decided to amend the party's constitution and
political platform.

Briefing the press one day before the faction kicked off its
congress in Yogyakarta, party executive A.S. Hikam refused to say
if the amendments were related to plans to change the party's
name, saying only that the changes were needed to improve the
party's structural capabilities so that it could attract more
voters in the 2004 general election.

"It is very important for the PKB to attract more voters in
the general election so that we can translate our political
platform into the country's political life more effectively," he
said.

At least 1,600 PKB workers confirmed their participation in
the congress to be opened by its advisory board chief, former
president Abdurrahman Wahid, or Gus Dur as he is familiarly
known.

Set up in July 1999, the PKB split into two groups in July
2001 after a faction led by Matori Abdul Djalil attended the 2001
extraordinary session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR)
that removed then president Abdurrahman Wahid, a PKB founder,
from office.

Gus Dur, in his capacity as the PKB's board of patrons chief,
retaliated by dismissing Matori and replaced him with Alwi
Shihab, who had served as the minister for foreign affairs during
Gus Dur's short-lived presidency.

Matori, who continues to claim to be the legitimate chairman
of the PKB, set out on Wednesday hard-to-accept conditions for
reconciliation with the Alwi camp, namely that he (Matori) be
allowed to keep his position as the party chairman.

"We are always open to a reconciliation with Alwi's camp, but
on condition that I must retain my chairmanship," Matori said at
the closing ceremony of his faction's three-day congress in
Jakarta.

Matori's precondition for a reconciliation is very unlikely to
be accepted by the Alwi camp, setting the stage for a formal
breakup of the political party that was founded in July 1999 with
the support of Nahdlatul Ulama, the country's biggest Muslim
organization, which has at least 45 million members.

In the event of breaking up, Matori is likely to retain the
name PKB, while Alwi Shihab will have to find a different name
for his party. Alwi will also have to register his party with the
justice and human rights ministry in order to contest the 2004
general election.

It was not clear, however, if the constitution changes already
drafted also covered a change in the party's name. The party's
board of patrons chief, Gus Dur, had said earlier that he would
change the party's name should Matori's PKB win recognition from
the administration of President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

"The new name could be the 'Original PKB' or something
similar," Gus Dur once said.

Hikam, who served as minister of research and technology in
Gus Dur's cabinet, said the expected changes in the party's
political platform were crucial for updating it in line with
prevailing political and social issues.

He said that in the political field, the party's platform
would underline constitutional reform, including a campaign for
good governance and direct presidential elections, he said.

"The draft change of platform in the economic field focuses on
the concept of "popular economy" but with an emphasis on the
concept's practicality rather than using it rhetorically."

Hikam said other crucial issues that would be inserted in the
party's platform concerned regional autonomy and national
education.

Secretary of the congress steering committee, Khofifah Indar
Parawansa, who is also one of the party's central executive board
members, said that a major change would also be made as part of
the effort to guarantee more proportionate women's representation
in the party.

In his capacity as a member of the party's central executive
board, Hikam said that Alwi's faction would make every effort to
approach and reunite with Matori Abdul Djalil's faction despite
Matori's absence from the Alwi faction congress.

"Because Pak Matori is also a PKB worker who has given
significant service to the party. We still hope that he will
appear before this congress to clarify what he did, although we
have already given him five opportunities to meet with the PKB
central board, all of which he failed to avail of," he asserted.

Hikam said that suing Matori's faction for establishing an
illegal party would still be a resort that was open to the Alwi
faction.

"What kind of reconciliation efforts we make are dependent on
the new central executive board and the congress," he added.