Jakarta – The rift within the United Development Party, or PPP, reached new depths this week with a breakaway camp staging its own national convention in Jakarta.
Former religious minister Suryadharma Ali has been fighting his dismissal from the party's top position in September after he was named by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) as a graft suspect. Suryadharma's former secretary general, M. Romahurmuziy, led the charge for his the party boss' ouster.
Romahurmuziy, popularly known as Romy, subsequently staged a party convention in Surabaya, East Java, which saw him take over the position of PPP chairman – an appointment the government only officially recognized last week.
"[The PPP] regrets its decision [to name Roma] as chairman. Therefore, I demand that Jokowi immediately repeal the move," Suryadharma announced on Friday, referring to President Joko Widodo by his popular nickname.
Suryadharma, who still considers himself the official party chairman, said Romahurmuzy's appointment was illegitimate, claiming the gathering he led in Jakarta last week – and not his rival's in Surabaya – was the official PPP convention.
Observers have pointed out that both party factions should first have resolved their differences through an internal tribunal before a national convention could even be staged.
However, both camps claimed to have gone through this process. "The result [of the tribunal] is this convention," Suryadharma said referring to the meeting staged by his supporters.
The PPP controls the second-fewest number of seats in the House of Representatives, sliding down three spots from sixth position five years ago. The party's dismal legislative election results of April this year were reportedly one of the deciding factors for Suryadharma's removal as chief.
The former religious affairs minister then angered many members of the PPP by cozying up to the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party's losing presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto before the House election – even appearing at a rally extolling Prabowo's political chops while neglecting to promote his own political stock or that of his party.
But it was Suryadharma's naming as a suspect by the (KPK) that was the final straw for many in the PPP. Suryadharma has been charged with mismanaging the country's multi-billion dollar hajj fund during his time as minister of religious affairs.
The deposed PPP boss maintains his innocence and says the changing of the guard at the PPP is tantamount to a coup.
Humphrey Djemat, a lawyer for the PPP camp and loyal to Suryadharma filed a lawsuit against the Justice and Human Rights Minister Yasona Laoly in the Administrative Court (PTUN) on Wednesday after the official acknowledged the PPP's change in leadership.
"The decision of the justice and human rights minister has had a legal impact that damaged the PPP in this dispute," Humphrey said.
"The minister's decision was not carefully made; it was inconsistent, unlawful and violated the principles of professionalism and legal certainty that characterize good governance."
Suryadharma's camp has demanded that the ministry annul its decision pending a court verdict on the suit.
Around 800 party members attended Suryadharma's convention, which was staged at Central Jakarta's Sahid Jaya Hotel on Thursday and Friday.
Present at the convention were Gerindra chairman Prabowo Subianto, National Mandate Party (PAN) chairman Hatta Rajasa, Golkar Party chairman Aburizal Bakrie and two House of Representatives deputy speakers, Fahri Hamzah and Fadli Zon. Notably absent were Romahurmuziy and PPP officials supporting his reign.
The guest politicians represented parties that are all members of the Red-White coalition, oppose the Awesome Indonesia coalition that supports President Joko. Under Suryadharma, the PPP backed the Prabowo-led camp, known as the KMP, before switching sides under Romy.
The Jakarta convention also aimed to appoint Suryadharma's successor, who is now under investigation by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on several counts of graft.
Five PPP politicians are hope to replace the disgraced minister, all of whom are Suryadharma supporters.
Romy denounced Suryadharma's convention, saying that it violates party rules. Furthermore, Romy said his faction had invited Suryadharma's camp for reconciliation meetings during the Surabaya convention, but was refused.
Andar Nubowo from the think tank Indo Strategy said the PPP "is burying itself" with prolonged internal conflict. "They are too busy pushing for their own agendas. [PPP supporters] have lost their role models and leadership," he said.
Andar added that the rift will likely impact the party's already dismal votes in the next election.
Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/ppp-burying-continuing-internal-battle-chairmanship/