Yogie withdraws remark on PPP chief

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Home Affairs Yogie S.M. is working to placate the United Development Party and the feelings that were hurt last week when the minister issued a statement calling the party's chief "sick".

According to party chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum, Yogie met with him on Saturday for a "frank" talk and to withdraw his remarks.

"He (Yogie) reassured me that he hadn't the slightest intention of offending me when he described me as sick. But he sad he was unhappy with my stating that the political system had sidelined the two political parties," Ismail Hasan told reporters at his residence.

The two political parties that Ismail Hasan referred to are his United Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).

When describing Ismail Hasan as sick, Yogie was responding to Ismail Hasan's allegation that the political system dominated by the ruling Golkar party was "marginalizing" the PPP and PDI.

Yogie's statement drew fire from PPP members, who demanded that the minister apologize. In a meeting that Yogie called on Friday, Ismail Hasan was conspicuously absent, saying that he had other commitments.

On Friday, party supporters protested in front of PPP's headquarters, demanding that Yogie apologize. Other members from provincial and regional party branches are voicing similar demands.

"We had a frank meeting. Throughout the meeting he made the enquiries and I just responded," Ismail said, declining to say if the minister had apologized.

He said only that the minister withdrew his statement because it offended him (Ismail Hasan) personally and his party.

Ismail Hasan said he would first report the results of his one-hour meeting to his party before speaking further to the press.

The meeting took place only hours after senior PPP officials recommended that Ismail Hasan take up Yogie's invitation to settle any misunderstandings.

"After hearing the reports and opinions of board members, and taking into account the party's aspirations...we concluded that...Buya (Ismail Hasan) should meet the personal invitation of Yogie S. Memet," said Hamzah Haz, the chairman of the party's board after the Saturday meeting.

Buya, or revered teacher, is the name by which Ismail Hasan is often addressed.

He added the party's board welcomed Yogie's invitation and that, "as a good Moslem", it would be commendable for Ismail Hasan to meet him.

Ismail Hasan said that he and other PPP leaders would explore the meaning of Yogie's withdrawal. "I don't say that the problem has been solved," he added.

His widely-publicized comment that the system has been marginalizing the PPP and PDI has received strong support from numerous politicians of both parties and from independent political observers.

He said he supported the strong reactions voiced by PPP members and said, "They have every right to air their opinion".

He also welcomed Yogie's suggestion that he and Yogie establish a hotline to solve any differences in the future. "It's a good signal that the government is willing to solve problems together," he said. (rms/anr)