NU Cadres 'battle for supremacy' at PPP congress

Jakarta, NU Online
After the collapse of the New Order, the political situation in the United Development Party (PPP) has changed. The Indonesian Muslims (MI) camp  having privileges during the era has now been under the control of NU cadres.

In its 7th congress still being held in Bandung, there have been at least two strong candidates having NU background, namely Suryadharma Ali and Muqowwam. In 1998 Hamzah Haz became chairman of PPP and and was replaced Suryadharma Ali in 2007.

"It is now a turn-round situation, (during) the New Order era, NU cadres had secretary-general (position) only, while its general chairmen were from the MI. Now its chairman is from NU cadre and its secretary general is from MI," chairman of the Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) Prof. Kacung Maridjan said here on Monday.

Meanwhile an accountability report delivered by its chairman Suryadharma at a party plenary session at Panghegar Hotel in Bandung on Monday was marred by walkouts and interruptions.

Suryadharma is hoping to be reelected chairman at the party congress.

“There are so many military officers inside. How can this be? This is a political party meeting,” Zainuddin Isman, member of the party’s consultative assembly, said.

Zainuddin walked out of the room while the chairman was addressing the party members.

The meeting was closed to journalists.

Zainuddin said the chaos broke out when party district executive board (DPC) representatives complained that Suryadharma had not allowed regular party members to comment on his report.

The meeting, presided over by the party’s secretary-general Irgan Chairul Mahfiz, only allowed high level regional executive board (DPW) representatives to ask questions, he said.

The participants said the people assigned to safeguard the meeting were not party members, which they said violated the party's statute.