Dubious delegates haunt PDI-P congress<\/p>\n
SEMARANG, Central Java (JP): Some 115 delegates at the
\ninaugural congress of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
\n(PDI Perjuangan) still were unable to attend the proceedings on
\nthe second day because organizers doubted their legitimacy.<\/p>\n
Their fate should be determined at the next plenary session,
\nsaid chairman of the organizing committee Mangara Siahaan.<\/p>\n
\"The organizing committee has no authority to handle them. Let
\nthe congress decide,\" Mangara said.<\/p>\n
A member of the steering committee, Mochtar Buchori, said the
\ncongress had set up a three-person team to look into the matter.<\/p>\n
\"So far, three cases, including the delegations from
\nPurwodadi, Central Java and Riau, have been settled,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The 115 delegates claim to represent the party's branches in
\nNorth Sumatra, West Java, Central Java, South Kalimantan, North
\nSulawesi, South Sulawesi, Riau and Irian Jaya.<\/p>\n
However, they were beaten to the congress by other delegates
\nwho claimed to be the rightful representatives of the branches.
\nOnly those recognized by the organizing committee were given the
\nnecessary credentials, accommodation, meals and other facilities.<\/p>\n
The two contesting delegations from North Sumatra were locked
\nin a war of words on Tuesday, each claiming to be the legitimate
\nrepresentatives of their region.<\/p>\n
Also remaining unresolved on Tuesday was the participation of
\n61 delegates who claim to represent East Timor and the question
\nof whether or not they have voting rights at the congress.<\/p>\n
\"There is a possibility that the congress would liquidate the
\nEast Timor chapter,\" congress spokesman Saul de Ornay said.<\/p>\n
Commander of the Aitarak East Timor militia Eurico Gueteres
\nargued, however, that the East Timor chapter should be retained.<\/p>\n
\"We are still Indonesians. Last year's poll didn't give us the
\nright to make East Timor an independent country,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, at a plenary session on Tuesday, the congress ruled
\nthat only the branches, and not the chapters, had voting rights
\nin the election of the chairperson. It also set up four
\ncommissions to look into the party's statutes, programs,
\norganizations and one to draft rules on the election process of
\nthe chairperson.<\/p>\n
The central executive board was disbanded immediately after
\nchairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri presented her report of
\naccountability at the congress on Tuesday morning.<\/p>\n
Megawati was later elected to represent the outgoing executive
\nboard in leading the congress, along with representatives from
\neach of the 28 provincial chapters.<\/p>\n
Outside the congress venue, Megawati supporters from the East
\nJava city of Surabaya formed a convoy in pedicabs and cars to
\ncondemn plans by party figures Eros Djarot and Dimyati Hartono to
\ncontest the election of the chairperson against the incumbent
\nleader.<\/p>\n
Another group of about 70 youths, meanwhile, marched to the
\nvenue demanding the inclusion of political activist Pius
\nLustrilanang on PDI Perjuangan's next executive board.<\/p>\n
\"Pius has a strong commitment to advocating youth interests,\"
\nOka Dwi Chandra, who coordinated the march, said. (swa\/har\/rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/dubious-delegates-haunt-pdi-p-congress-1447893297",
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