Jakarta – The Star Reform Party or PBR has signed a Minimum Commitment with the Indonesian Poor People’s Union (SRMI), which will be used to bind the PBR into struggling for the people’s interests if they win the 2009 general elections.

The political contract was signed by PBR Deputy General Chairperson R. Muhammad Syafi’i and party General Secretary Rusman HM Ali during the launch of the PBR’s electoral registration number of 29 in Jakarta on Saturday August 2.

The Minimum Commitment asserts that the PBR will struggle for national self-sufficiency through accelerating the rescue of national assets, abolishing the foreign debt and national industrialisation. The PBR was also asked to struggle for healthcare guarantees and free education, not to evict the poor from their homes and provide job opportunities for the people.

“Currently only the PBR has signed it. We will also circulate this political contract among other political parties”, said SRMI General Chairperson Marlo Sitompul. If the commitment is not undertaken, the SRMI will challenge, control and put direct pressure on the party concerned. Furthermore, the poor will be asked to immediacy withdraw the mandate that has been given.

In a speech, PBR General Chairperson Bursah Zarnubi said that the party has a responsibility in building and generating the people’s trust in the nation. The loss of the people’s trust in the nation has occurred because they have been abandoned by their leaders.

“Indonesia needs leaders that can provide a solution to the nation and have a commitment to improve the nation’s dignity, it doesn’t matter it they are old or young”, he said. (mzw)

[Translated by James Balowski. Final two paragraphs on comments by Indo Barometer executive director not translated.]