Three more political parties announce their establishment

JAKARTA (JP): Three more new political parties recently declared their establishment, bringing the number to 62, though not all have registered at the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The three are the Free Nation Party (PKM), the Nahdlatul Ummat, and the Indonesian People's Strife and Aspiration Party (PPARI).

The Free Nation Party and PPARI officially declared themselves yesterday while Nahdlatul Ummat Party declared its establishment on Sunday.

The Free Nation Party, which was registered as the 55th party at the ministry, said it would fight for equal rights for every group in society and for a clean government.

The party is led by a presidium whose members come from the so-called "nine pillars" that encompass existing religious groups in the country and the Chinese-Indonesian community.

Idham Chalid and Sjukron Ma'mun, two noted scholars from the largest Moslem organization Nahdlatul Ulama, were expected to lead the Nahdlatul Ummat Party, the establishment of which has won the support of Moslem scholars in 23 provinces.

Syarifuddin Harahap, chairman of another new party, the Republic Party, said his party was ready to enter the political arena. It was even ready to establish a "shadow cabinet".

He also said his party was ready to ally itself with other parties if they failed to win a majority in the next general election.

He said the party was setting up chapters in provinces and regencies across the country.

Many observers have expressed concern over the burgeoning of political parties and warn that it could jeopardize national unity.

Subkey Latief, a spokesman for Malaysian Moslem parties (PAS), urged Indonesian Moslems to join only one big and strong party.

"The appearance of numerous political parties in Indonesia is good for democracy, but it would be better if all Moslem people in that country unite in a big party," he said as quoted by Antara.

The government is allowing a multiparty system in the general election scheduled to be held in May 1999.

The government has drafted three new laws on general elections, political parties and on the function of the House of Representatives and of the People's Consultative Assembly. (rms)