Reform Star Party splits

JAKARTA: The truce between squabbling factions in the Reform Star Party (PBR) was short-lived as Zainal Ma'arif now plans to set up a new party.

Speaking in his hometown of Surakarta, Central Java, Zainal said a peace agreement with PBR leader Zainuddin MZ over two weeks ago could not be maintained.

Zainal, who is also a deputy House of Representatives speaker, said Zainuddin had failed to follow up on an agreement to form a joint central board of executives by Nov. 1.

Reconciliation between the PBR factions had been facilitated by deputy People's Consultative Assembly speaker Aksa Mahmud.

Zainal said he and other faction leaders, including House member Dja'far Badjeber and lawyer Mahendradatta, would found a new organization to prepare a party that will contest the 2009 legislative election.

Zainuddin won unanimous support to retain the party's top post in June, but the Zainal-led faction claimed the election process was illegitimate because it did not accommodate those who opposed Zainuddin's bid. Zainal formed a break-away central board in August. -- Antara