Calls for compromise in PDI row gain momentum<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The idea that the Indonesian Democratic Party
\n(PDI) appoints a compromise candidate to head its East Java
\nchapter board gained momentum yesterday, although the party's
\nleaders have not responded, at least publicly, to the idea.<\/p>\n
Ryas Rasyid, a leading public administration expert, said that
\na third, compromise, candidate is the best solution to the nearly
\ntwo-year impasse in the leadership contest in the PDI's East Java
\nChapter.<\/p>\n
The appointment of a third candidate for the East Java post is
\nalso a face-saving move to all parties concerned, Ryas, the
\nrector of the Institute of Public Administration Science, told
\nreporters.<\/p>\n
The chapter leadership has been divided into two camps: one
\nlead by Soetjipto who was appointed by the Central Executive
\nBoard in Jakarta, and another led by Latief Pudjosakti, who still
\ncommands strong followers in East Java.<\/p>\n
Latief, long known as a staunch opponent of Megawati, had
\nchaired the East Java chapter until the 1994 election which ended
\nin the deadlock.<\/p>\n
The East Java provincial administration recognizes neither
\ncamp and has left the PDI seats in the regional election
\ncommittee empty until the party could come up with a single
\nleader. The government has set a May deadline to PDI or forfeit
\nthe seat altogether in the 1997 election.<\/p>\n
In December, a group of PDI activists in East Java formed a
\ngroup offering itself as a compromise camp to head the chapter.
\nThe idea died away with none of the conflicting parties or the
\ngovernment giving their backing.<\/p>\n
This week, another group staked its claim to the chapter
\nleadership. Leaders of the alternative board, lead by David
\nTanuwijaya and Ridwan Effendi, were in town this week to lobby
\nfor support from the central board and the government.<\/p>\n
Ridwan was quoted by Berita Yudha as saying yesterday that he
\nhad notified the Ministry of Home Affairs about the line up of
\nthe compromise board and had sent a letter to President Soeharto.<\/p>\n
Ryas said that the establishment of a third board should come
\nfrom within the party. \"The government should not interfere,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He proposed that a new regional congress be held, involving
\nEast Java party figures, to elect the new party leaders,<\/p>\n
Ryas, who also heads the Public Administration Science
\nSociety, said the government is in an awkward position in dealing
\nwith the PDI problem and therefore cannot recognize either of the
\ntwo conflicting camps.<\/p>\n
\"I think everyone should realize that something must be done
\nquickly to resolve the problem,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Besides Ryas, a number of other political scholars have also
\nsuggested a compromise candidate as the best, and perhaps only
\nsolution.<\/p>\n
The party's central board in Jakarta, led by Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri, has insisted that as far as it was concerned the
\nproblem has been resolved with the appointment of Soetjipto.<\/p>\n
Megawati however has been prevented from installing Soetjipto
\ninto the post because the police have refused to issue the permit
\nfor such ceremony.<\/p>\n
Megawati's stance came under criticism from President Soeharto
\nthis month who said that the party leaders are simply denying
\nproblems that actually exist and should be resolved. (01\/emb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/calls-for-compromise-in-pdi-row-gain-momentum-1447893297",
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