PKB leaders to hold separate meetings

Jakarta, NU Online
The internal rift in the National Awakening Party (PKB) has intensified, with dismissed chairman Muhaimin Iskandar calling an extraordinary meeting for the day after a similar meeting has been scheduled by the party's chief patron Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid.

PKB executives decided at an executive board meeting at the party's office in Kalibata, South Jakarta, on Saturday (19/4) to hold the extraordinary meeting on May 2-4. Gus Dur's meeting is scheduled for May 1.<>

PKB executives have specified three agenda items for the extraordinary meeting: the strengthening of the party's relationship with Nahdlatul Ulama, the party's political leadership structure and the decentralization of the party.

PKB executive Abdul Kadir Karding said the extraordinary meeting would be the "constitutional solution" for ending the 10-month internal conflict.

He said the party leaders' meeting on April 6 had already recommended the meeting take place.

"We have received a letter from the party's 387 municipal/regency chapters and 21 provincial chapters requesting the conflict be solved through an extraordinary meeting," he said, as quoted by Antara.

"The request is in line with Gus Dur's determination to hold an extraordinary meeting."

Moeslim Abdulrahman, a member of the PKB board of patrons, said the board had decided Friday the party would hold an extraordinary meeting.

"It was decided last night. We will hold the meeting soon," he said, as quoted by detik.com.

The Muhaimin-led PKB also decided to dismiss secretary-general Zannubah Arifah Chafsoh, also known as Yenny Wahid, who is Gus Dur's daughter, and replace her with Lukman Edy.

The PKB, the fifth-largest faction in the House of Representatives, has been facing its toughest test of unity since the party's executive board formally dismissed party leader Muhaimin earlier this month.

Muhaimin defied the decision, calling attention to an order by Muslim ulema connected to the party that he stay. The Jakarta Post reported.

The General Elections Commission (KPU) has urged parties with double leadership -- including the PKB -- to resolve their conflicts before May 12. Should they fail to do so, the KPU will exclude them from the verification process. Parties must go through the process to be eligible to run in next year's elections. (dar)