'Soekarno reincarnation' forms party

'Soekarno reincarnation' forms party

YOGYAKARTA: A man who thinks he is the reincarnation of first president Soekarno or Bung Karno, set up his own political party on Wednesday in a bid to join the 2004 general election.

Mohammad Arief Koesno, 62, declared the establishment of the Indonesian National Unity and Fusion Party (PPPKBI) in Yogyakarta in an event that attracted thousands from East and Central Java. No government officials were present.

Arief Koesno wore Soekarno's trademark black cap, his sunglasses and the commando stick while he addressed his supporters with the same vigor which had made Soekarno a famous orator.

"We want to create the lighthouse for the world just as Soekarno dreamed of: "The Emerging Forces" or the new world. This we must create," he told a cheering crowd.

Arief Koesno, known to his followers as Romo Yoso, said he was ready to become Indonesia's president and would like to lead the world. -- JP