Reform Star Party splits

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