ID :
31151
Wed, 11/19/2008 - 21:46
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/31151
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GUS DUR CALLS FOR BOYCOTT OF ELECTIONS
Jakarta, Nov 19 (ANTARA) - Chairman of the Legal Council of the National Awakening Party (PKB) Abdurrahman Wahid on Wednesday repeated his call on PKB regional branches to boycott the legislative, regional representatives (DPD), presidential and vice presidential elections to be held next year.
"We will boycott all the elections," Abdurrahman Wahid who is popularly called Gus Dur said here on Wednesday.
He said in boycotting the elections, all PKB branches would not register their would-be legislators with the General Elections Commission (KPU)/Regional Election Commission (KPUD). It would not conduct any campaign for anyone either.
The reason for the boycott, he said, was that the KPU only recognized the PKB executive board under Muhaimin Iskandar while the one under his leadership was not registered as the legitimate PKB that had the right to nominate would-be candidates with the KPU.
"It turned out the KPU does not recognize the PKB executive board which is recognized by the PKB legal council's chairman," he said.
Gus Dur was optimistic that his calls would be followed by his supporters. "All of the 420 units of PKB that have the right to take part in the elections will boycott the polls," he said.
Early this month, Gus Dur threatened to boycott next year's general election if the government did not accommodate the party under his leadership.
"If by November 18, 2008 there is no decision from the government, I will announce to the press that my party will boycott the polls and ask the people not to use their voting right," Gus Dur said.
"I call on the community not to use their voting right. But if the government is again involved in fraud, I urge them not to use their voting right by up to 75 percent," said Gus Dur who is also former chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulema organization.
"We will boycott all the elections," Abdurrahman Wahid who is popularly called Gus Dur said here on Wednesday.
He said in boycotting the elections, all PKB branches would not register their would-be legislators with the General Elections Commission (KPU)/Regional Election Commission (KPUD). It would not conduct any campaign for anyone either.
The reason for the boycott, he said, was that the KPU only recognized the PKB executive board under Muhaimin Iskandar while the one under his leadership was not registered as the legitimate PKB that had the right to nominate would-be candidates with the KPU.
"It turned out the KPU does not recognize the PKB executive board which is recognized by the PKB legal council's chairman," he said.
Gus Dur was optimistic that his calls would be followed by his supporters. "All of the 420 units of PKB that have the right to take part in the elections will boycott the polls," he said.
Early this month, Gus Dur threatened to boycott next year's general election if the government did not accommodate the party under his leadership.
"If by November 18, 2008 there is no decision from the government, I will announce to the press that my party will boycott the polls and ask the people not to use their voting right," Gus Dur said.
"I call on the community not to use their voting right. But if the government is again involved in fraud, I urge them not to use their voting right by up to 75 percent," said Gus Dur who is also former chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulema organization.
