Feuding PDI camps may go separate ways<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Home Affairs Syarwan Hamid has
\nsupported the idea of splitting the divided Indonesian Democratic
\nParty (PDI) into two parties if the Megawati Soekarnoputri and
\nSoerjadi camps cannot resolve their differences.<\/p>\n
Speaking to reporters after meeting with President B.J.
\nHabibie here yesterday, Syarwan said the government could accept
\nthe formation of two PDI parties.<\/p>\n
\"There's really no problem with a PDI I and PDI II,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Megawati was ousted by Soerjadi as PDI leader in a government-
\nbacked congress in 1996. But she and her supporters have remained
\nactive in expressing their conviction they are the rightful
\nleaders of the party.<\/p>\n
With the resignation of president Soeharto in May, the new
\ngovernment appeared to back away from its rigid acknowledgement
\nof Soerjadi's camp as the rightful PDI.<\/p>\n
\"It's really hard for me to comment,\" Syarwan said when asked
\nabout the issue of which camp the government would recognize.<\/p>\n
\"Please settle your (PDI) internal problems yourself.\"<\/p>\n
Syarwan reported to the President on the progress of the
\nrevisions of three of the political laws -- on elections,
\npolitical parties and the structure and role of the People's
\nConsultative Assembly and the House of Representatives --
\ncurrently being drafted by a ministry team.<\/p>\n
According to Syarwan, 42 new political parties had now been
\nestablished but the government has not given formal recognition
\nto any of them.<\/p>\n
\"For now we will register them... Eventually there will be
\nsome limitation by certain criteria.\" He added that a criteria
\nwould be a requirement for a party to have branches in the
\nprovincial level. (mds)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/feuding-pdi-camps-may-go-separate-ways-1447893297",
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