Jakarta – The chair of the United Develop Party (PPP), Ismail Hasan Matareum has said that the National Leadership meeting of the PPP has placed on the agenda, recommendations from a number of Regional Councils of the PPP (DPW) a plan to boycott the coming 1997 General Election campaign. This issue arose because many of the [new -JB] regulations controlling the election are considered to cause difficulties for the PPP as one of the political parties.

"Certainly there have been recommendations from a number of DPWs which have included a plan to boycott the election campaign. There has been no decision on this issue yet, we are waiting for the outcome of this meeting", said Buya (Matareum's familiar name), answering questions from journalist on 28 February in Jakarta after the opening of the meeting which will continue until Sunday, tomorrow.

The following is an interview with Buya:

Journalist (J): What will be the attitude of the PPP national leadership if the government decides not to change/review the election campaign regulations, will PPP join a boycott?

Buya (B): We have a number of alternatives, including for example not joining a campaign in a form which is considered by PPP to be damaging [to us], but other things could be followed. But we have not yet decided on that because it is only just begun to be discussed by our compatriots in the regions.

W: What about if there are DPWs which decide not to join the campaign?

B: No. It must be agreed jointly in this meeting first. Don't take individual steps because we are a single party.

W: How about the issue of a number of DPWs recommending a boycott of the election campaign?

B: That has certainly been suggested and is one the things being discussed in this meeting including running the campaign, campaign regulations and campaign management.

W: Is the PPP national leadership courageous enough to take a decision to boycott the campaign if there is such a recommendation.

B: Yeh, if they [the national meeting] take that decision that's the PPP. That is the issue. But we have not yet taken it [the decision - JB] because we have only just begun to discuss the issue. I can preempt the meeting.

W: Politically, will the government change the regulations?

B: Even if they don't want to politically, technically they can do so. But not to the point, for example, [the government] feels it has lost face. Perhaps it is possible to make notes so to carry out what forms a obstacle.

W: But how far will you struggle for this desire?

B: We will ask for a meeting with the Minister of Internal Affairs and the head of the police but that will only be done after we have held this meeting. (ama)

[This a full, not abridged translation from Kompas - JB]