Rights activist gets top spot in Kosgoro
Rights activist gets top spot in Kosgoro
JAKARTA (JP): The congress of Kosgoro, an influential organization under the ruling political grouping, Golkar, concluded yesterday with a surprising twist: The elected chairman handed the organization's chairmanship over to an unanticipated contender.
Outgoing chairman Soeprapto won the second and final round of the election, obtaining 20 votes. His rival, human rights campaigner Bambang W. Soeharto, who did not even make the list of potential leaders during the earlier days of the congress, got the remaining 13 votes.
Upon learning of his victory, Soeprapto stood up and declared he would hand over Kosgoro's 1995-2000 leadership to Bambang, his partner during the previous chairmanship term.
"Suddenly, I realize how important it is to leave Kosgoro's chairmanship to younger cadres," Soeprapto told reporters after the election was over.
He denied speculation that he made the decision because of external pressure. "I used to be a freedom fighter. I don't fear any threat or pressure," he said.
The decision apparently caused dissatisfaction among congress participants, most notably Agung Laksono, the incumbent Kosgoro secretary-general, previously thought to have good prospects of gaining the chairmanship.
"I am disappointed with Soeprapto. He should not have done that," Agung said. "He should have withdrawn from the election at the beginning."
However, State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman, who is also a Kosgoro member and previously the strongest contender in the elections, supported Soeprapto's decision.
He also dismissed speculation that Soeprapto's decision had been "engineered" from outside.
Generalizations
"I know Pak Prapto very well," Hayono said. "He made the decision out of his good intention of giving the younger cadre the opportunity to lead Kosgoro."
Hayono refused to comment about the unusual election procedures.
"Every organization has its own way and system. We cannot make generalizations," he said. "Kosgoro is different from the Nahdlatul Ulama (Moslem organization) or the Indonesian Democratic Party," he said.
The second round of the election, presided over by chairman of the organizing committee Thomas Manurung, was delayed for four hours. Participants were observed using the extra time for lobbying.
Both Soeprapto and Bambang were seen leaving in the same car during a break in the proceedings.
Bambang, 52, entered the race on Tuesday after Hayono formally declared his unwillingness to be nominated for the election.
Bambang, who is also a member of the National Commission on Human Rights, has been a member of Kosgoro since his youth. He was chairman of Kosgoro's youth wing Generasi Muda Kosgoro before he being appointed one a Kosgoro deputy chairman in 1990.
The six-day congress was closed last night with the organization issuing statements about, among other things, the country's political situation. (imn)