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 "He should have withdrawn from the election at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)