Indonesia Highlights: Agus Yudhoyono Remains Legitimate Chairman of Democratic Party: Indonesian Minister | Passenger Boat Catches Fire in Papua’s Sorong Port | Indonesian Flag Carrier Garuda Operates

KOMPAS.com – Despite a top aide of Indonesian President Joko Widodo was named chairman of the Democratic Party, the government remains to recognize Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) as the legitimate leader of the opposition party.

The appointment of Moeldoko, who is also the president’s chief of staff, was challenged by Agus who said that the extraordinary congress was illegal and unconstitutional.

Meanwhile, in Papua, a passenger boat carrying more than 100 people, including children caught fire in a Sorong port after arriving from Waisai Raja Ampat Port.

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Agus Yudhoyono Remains Legitimate Chairman of Democratic Party: Indonesian Minister

Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD said the government remains to recognize Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) as the legitimate leader of the Democratic Party, one of the opposition parties in the country.

Mahfud's remark came after President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's chief of staff Moeldoko was appointed chairman of the opposition party in an extraordinary congress which was described as illegal and unconstitutional according to some critics.

"The official executive committee that has been recognized by the government until now is the one [led by] AHY, the son of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono [Jokowi's predecessor]," said Mahfud on Saturday, March 6.

Mahfud said, however, the government could not prevent the extraordinary congress from happening. The meeting, which was claimed to replace AHY, was held by the anti-AHY camp in North Sumatera's Deli Serdang on Friday at around 3 pm.

He added that in the government's view, the extraordinary congress held by the anti-AHY camp was merely a get-together event attended by the Democratic Party cadres.

Therefore, the government could not interfere with the event based on Law No. 9/1998 on freedom of expression.

"The law mentions that it is allowed to organize a general meeting as long as it meets certain requirements such as the event will not be held at the State Palace," said Mahfud.

He went on to say that the government could not certify the legitimacy of the extraordinary congress against AHY because the government has yet received any report.

Source: https://go.kompas.com/read/2021/03/07/175005474/agus-yudhoyono-remains-legitimate-chairman-of-democratic-party-indonesian.