Jakarta – Former defense and security minister Gen. (ret) Wiranto on Thursday announced the formation of a new political party to contest the 2009 elections.
Wiranto chairs the People's Conscience Party (Hanura), while the secretary-general is insurance businessman Yus Usman Sumanegara. The party's executive board includes politicians and former military officers and ministers.
Among those sitting on the party's central board are former Army chief of staff Gen. (ret) Subagyo H.S., former Navy chief of staff Adm. (ret) Bernard Ken Sondakh, former Army deputy commander Gen. (ret) Fachrul Razi and former military chief of general affairs Lt. Gen. (ret) Suaidi Marasabessy.
The board also includes former finance minister Fuad Bawazier, lawyer Elza Syarief, former United Development Party member Djafar Badjeber, former National Mandate Party executive Samuel Koto, former women's affairs minister Tuti Alawiyah and actors Anwar Fuady and Gusti Randa.
Wiranto and running mate Solahuddin Wahid, a Nahdlatul Ulama scholar, unsuccessfully represented the Golkar Party in the 2004 presidential election. That election was won by another former Army general, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and running mate Jusuf Kalla.
Wiranto is expected to use Hanura as his new political vehicle to contest the 2009 presidential election.
Despite the heavy presence of ex-military men, Usman denied Hanura was a military party. "The (former) military officers joined the party because we have the same views on how to improve the nation," he said. He said the party was established because of shared concerns over the direction of the country and those Indonesians being left behind by development.
According to the secretary-general, the party hopes to improve the quality of the country's human resources, develop an honest, brave and skilled leadership, build transparent and reliable governance, and enforce the law and human rights.
Also attending the ceremony to announce the formation of the party was former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, former Golkar leader Akbar Tandjung, former vice president Gen. (ret) Try Sutrisno and former Army chief of staff Gen. (ret) Ryamizard Ryacudu.