Yogie withdraws remark on PPP chief

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)