FORTY-FIVE FIGURES DECLARE NATIONAL DEMOCRAT ORGANIZATION

Jakarta, Feb 1 (ANTARA) - Forty-five national figures declared the establishment of a National Democrat organization in front of a crowd of thousands at the Senayan national stadium here on Monday.

The figures included Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono, Surya Paloh, Syafii Maarif, former cabinet ministers Khofifah Indar Parawansa, Siswono Yudhohusodo and Syamsul Muarif and other political figures.

Anis Baswedan, an Islamic university rector, representing the declarators read out the National Democrat Manifesto and later along with Syafii Maarif, Siswono, Khofifah and Budiman Sujatmoko gave a mandate to Surya Paloh and Sri Sultan to form the central board of the organization.

In its manifesto, the National Democrat states it rejects a democracy that complicated governance and failed to formulate public welfare.

"We reject democracy that merely complicates state administration and does not formulate public welfare. We reject democracy that only distributes power without any orientation to the public. We reject democracy without circulation of quality leadership. We reject democracy without freedom and welfare," he said.

The National Democrat has an ideal of developing a democracy with a strong basis to make a success using its own power and strength.

The National Democrat is a pro-change movement seeking to develop Indonesia.