Tens of thousands attend KPB rally in Banten

PANDEGLANG, West Java (JP): Newly established Work for National Care (KPB), a non-governmental organization dominated by Golkar Party figures, drew the attention of tens of thousands of Muslims here on Sunday by staging an anticommunism rally.

Numerous Muslim clerics who co-presided a prayer at the mass gathering expressed full support for the KPB in its mission to fight for people's aspirations to maintain the ban on communism and to help develop the economic, education and religious sectors in the region.

They said they would encourage Muslims in the region to support political parties and NGOs which were fully committed to accommodating people's aspirations.

"We support the KPB because it has made an effort to channel Muslim people's aspirations to keep the communism ban intact," said a local senior ulema.

KPB, founded by former Army chief of staff Gen. (ret) R. Hartono in April, plans to form a political party to contest the 2004 general election.

Hundreds of local youths waved anticommunist banners while thousands of others, dressed in green T-shirts bearing the KPB logo, traveled in a convoy across town on trucks and vans and buses. They yelled anticommunist slogans along the way.

President Abdurrahman Wahid has repeatedly defended his wish to have the 1966 Provisional People's Consultative Assembly decree banning communism revoked, while insisting it was the Assembly that would have the final say.

Abdurrahman's call has failed to garner much support, with only the National Awakening Party (PKB) -- which he cofounded -- supporting his proposal.

Hartono called on President Abdurrahman Wahid to bow to the increasing waves of anticommunism demonstrations nationwide, saying they represented people's rejection of the President's intention.

"The government will likely lose the people's confidence if the President goes ahead with his plan," said Hartono, amid huge applause from the audience.

He said the KPB would also call on the central government to develop Banten into a new province in order to accelerate development in the region.

Hartono said after the gathering that KPB would form a political party, claiming its presence and mission had gained support from 22 provinces.

"We have organized such a mass gathering in 22 provinces and gained support from the people," he said.

He said KPB would face no difficulties meeting the legal requirements to set up a political party as it has branches in 22 provinces and millions of supporters.

Asked about funding for the KPB, Hartono, who was accompanied by former Golkar secretary-general Ari Mardjono, said the mass organization had no links, neither financially nor politically, with former president Soeharto or his family.

"Neither Pak Harto, his daughter Mbak Tutut (Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana) or her siblings have donated one cent to KPB. Nor do they have any connection with us," he said.

Hartono was often seen accompanying then Golkar deputy chairwoman Hardiyanti during electoral campaigns ahead of the 1997 polls.

When asked about the National Police's plan to question him on Monday over his knowledge about the violence that followed the forcible takeover of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) office in July 1996, Hartono said he was prepared for the session. He said as the Army chief he was not involved in the incident and knew nothing about it. (rms)