Yogie says `no' to establishment of new party

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M. ruled out yesterday the establishment of a new political party as pondered by Moslem ulemas who are dismayed by the existing parties' inability to accommodate their wishes.

Yogie pointed out that the 1985 law on political parties limits the number of political organizations allowed to contest the five yearly general elections to three: the United Development Party (PPP), Golkar and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).

Yogie described the proposal for a new party as an "emotional move" made by ulemas infuriated by their recent failure to clinch the PPP chairmanship.

"Let's just implement the law and not fight for something unacceptable to many people," Yogie said after a meeting on domestic affairs with the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission II.

The minister was responding to a controversial plan by ulemas affiliated with Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) who are opposed to the re- election of the Moslem-based PPP's Ismail Hasan Metareum.

Disgruntled ulemas spearheaded by Yusuf Hasyim and Alawy Muhammad, both from East Java, say that the three existing government-controlled political organizations are increasingly unable to defend the people's interests.

Yogie questioned the philosophy behind the ulemas' move to form a new party because NU has formally withdrawn from party politics since 1984.

NU, Indonesia's largest organization claiming 35 million members and once a powerful political party, decided in 1984 to quit politics and focus on the economic and social welfare of its members.

Yusuf Hasyim acknowledged on Monday that his plan to start a new political party would not be easy because he had to seek amendment of the 1985 law, a venture that would likely be blocked by not only the existing organizations but also by the Armed Forces (ABRI) which is also represented in the House.

A member of the highest law-making body, the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), Hasyim said the initiative to form a new party came not only from NU leaders but also from groups dismayed by the existing political organizations.

"The initiative has to be made public now to generate public debate and the results may be seen in the next six years," he said as quoted by Antara.

The ulemas' political maneuvering, which runs foul of NU's formal policy, has triggered concern among government officials and some Moslem groups.

Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher said yesterday that influential ulemas who control great numbers of students were being used by politicians for their personal ends.

But it is also possible, he said, that the ulemas make themselves available to be used by the politicians. "Their move confuses their followers," he said.

The minister called on Moslems to "use their heads" so as not to be mentally lost amid the confusing political statements from their ulemas.

Meanwhile, the debate among NU ulemas about what to do in the wake of their failed bid to grab the PPP's top spot earlier this month continued yesterday.

In the Central Java capital of Semarang, prominent ulema Sahal Mahfudz said that the scholars should accept the reality and stop making a fuss.

"It's wrong to assume that PPP's vote tally in the 1997 general election would soar if the party is lead by an NU figure," he said.

Sahal, one of the NU chairman's deputies, argued that Moslems in general are nowadays no longer paternalistic like those in the 1950s when Islamic leaders were able to control the masses.

"Now, people will examine what a political organization offers in its programs before deciding whether to join," he said. (pan/har)