Yogie to keep hands off PPP congress

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M. promised yesterday that the government would stay out of the contest for leadership of the United Development Party (PPP) which will take place at its congress in Jakarta in late August.

Yogie, however, urged the Moslem-based party to make sure that they could elect their chairman in just one congress and not let the issue drag on, as occurred with the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) last year.

With the PPP congress nearing, the government's position regarding the leadership contest in the party becomes vital. However, government officials have resisted pressures to be dragged into the battle.

Yogie told reporters yesterday that the government felt that the party is mature enough to decide what was best for them.

"Why should we interfere in the congress?" he asked. "They (PPP leaders) are adults and they are also kyai (religious leaders)," he told reporters.

Yogie said the government's only "interference" would be in providing part of the funds necessary for the party to stage the congress and in providing the manpower to ensure security.

"The government has never had any intention of interfering," he said, adding that the government would maintain a low profile while monitoring closely the congress proceedings.

The congress, however, is haunted by the past experiences of both the PPP and PDI congresses, when the government's hand in selection was very visible.

Five years ago, Ismail Hasan Metareum was elected as chairman to replace the incumbent, and also more popular, Jaelani Naro, after the government intervened.

The PDI had to stage three congresses last year before deciding on Megawati Soekarnoputri, the daughter of former president Sukarno, as their leader. This move was in direct opposition to the government's efforts to push for its own candidate right up to the last minute.

PPP's congress, slated to begin on Aug. 28, will be opened by President Soeharto.

Tacit support

The incumbent Ismail Hasan is seen as a strong candidate to retain his post, counting on the support chiefly from his own handpicked leaders of the party's provincial boards. Some suggest that he also has the tacit support of the government.

However, politicians identified with the Nahdlatul Ulama, by far the largest faction in the PPP, have vowed to wrest the party's leadership.

They are currently preparing a number of their own candidates, including the popular and widely respected Jusuf Hasjim and Matori Abdul Jalil, the current PPP secretary general.

There are also increasing pressures from within the party to elect a more popular figure, to match the charisma of Megawati of the PDI -- a move which they say is vital if PPP is to retain its second position at the next general election in 1997. The leadership of Ismail Hasan, while considered successful, has been too conservative for many PPP members.

Organizers of the congress estimate that the party needs Rp 1.5 billion to stage the gathering and so far they have raised only Rp 200 million, including Rp 10 million chipped in by the government. (par)