YKPK pledge to promote democracy

YKPK pledge to promote democracy

JAKARTA (JP): The newly established National Brotherhood
Foundation has pledged to strengthen democracy in the country
while staying out of party politics.

The foundation, known by its Indonesian acronym YKPK, was
founded in Jakarta on Oct. 23 by a group of respected senior
public officials and has been endorsed by a number of top cabinet
officials.

YKPK secretary-general Matori Abdul Djalil said on Saturday
that while the foundation has no intention of fielding candidates
for the 1997 general election, it will fight to reform the laws
governing political parties.

He stressed that participation of the people is critical to
democracy.

"The only alternative to our political system is democracy,"
he said. "The government will only receive support from the
people if they are allowed to participate in supervising its
activities."

Matori pointed out that because the foundation will focus on
social and cultural activities, it will not nominate anyone for
the 1997 general elections or the presidential elections the
following year.

"We'd rather concentrate on establishing systems for the
general election and presidential succession than mention any
names," he said.

YKPK, he stressed, is not a political organization. Its
members are concerned more with growing individualistic attitudes
and the competition that has polarized various groups in society.

"We will soon prepare our immediate and long term programs,"
he said, adding that seminars and leadership training programs
are being developed.

The foundation was established by 67 influential public
figures, including former government and military officials.

Matori was formerly secretary-general of the United
Development Party. Its chairman is Lt. Gen. (ret.) Bambang
Triantoro, formerly Armed Forces chief of social and political
affairs. Other leading figures in the foundation include former
House speaker Kharis Suhud, Moslem leader Dahlan Ranuwihardjo,
intellectual Harsya Bachtiar, and former Catholic party leader
Frans Seda.

Matori denied that YKPK would be less effective in fulfilling
its goals having a foundation status.

"The success of an organization will be determined chiefly by
its ability to carry out its designed activities."

He also denied the suggestion that YKPK leaders purposely
timed the establishment of the foundation while President
Soeharto was out of the country to avoid having to ask for his
permission or blessing.

"It was simply a matter of finding the best moment to
establish an organization," he said.

The founders had originally hoped to announce the
establishment last May, timed with National Awakening Day, and
then again in August to coincide with Independence Day. On both
occasions they failed to make the necessary preparations on time,
Matori said.

"We finally decided that October was the next historical
month," he said. (imn)