Bagus Kurniawan, Sleman – The National Liberation Party of Unity (Papernas) Congress has been unable to start because the national police have failed to issue a permit. The congress organising committee is questioning why the police are making things difficult for them.

“We’ve fulfilled all of the requirements. Why however are [the police] making it difficult for us. [Former General] Wiranto also wants to have a party. Us too, we also want to have a party”, said congress committee member Dita Indah Sari.

This was conveyed by the labour activist that was once a political prisoner at the congress site at the Wisma Sejahtera Building in Kaliurang in the Sleman regency of Yogyakarta, Central Java, on Friday January 19.

Speaking with Detik.com meanwhile, Papernas secretary general Lukman Hakim said that the organising committee would continue to ask the national police to issue a permit for the congress. However they believe that it is becoming increasingly complicated.

By way of example, he said that the committee had been asked to redo the permit application and to provide an explanation on a number of congress sessions. The committee was even asked to remove a banner and other party paraphernalia from the congress site.

In addition to this, police also asked them to clarify the “Three Banners of the Party” that were included in the permit request. The “Three Banners of the Party” [The Three Banners of National Unity – JB] are abolishing the foreign debt, nationalising the mining industry and building the national industry for the welfare of the people.

The Papernas Congress was to have taken place on January 18-21. Aside from encountering problem’s from the national police, congress participants have also been haunted by worries that there would be an attack by the Yogyakarta Anti-Communist Front (FAKI). (fay/sss)

[Translated by James Balowski.]