Mega tells PDI-P politicians to behave<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Fed up with internal rifts in her party, the chairwoman of the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri threatened to dismiss members who continued to show
\ndefiance.<\/p>\n
Opening the party's national meeting here on Tuesday, Megawati
\nsaid that she had often been angered by such defiance.<\/p>\n
\"I have a right to be angry because many things that I have
\ninstructed, asked for or demanded have not been carried out,\" she
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"Although with reluctance, in the future I will have to
\ndismiss such people as all party members must put the party's
\ninterests ahead of their personal interests.\"<\/p>\n
The largest party in the country has been struggling to
\novercome internal bickering, which has intensified since Megawati
\nassumed the presidency in July 2001.<\/p>\n
Tarmidi Suhardjo, who used to chair the party's Jakarta
\nchapter, is among the prominent figures who were given their
\nmarching orders after he insisted on contesting the governorship
\nearlier this year, challenging Megawati's decision to back
\nSutiyoso. Later, Tarmidi joined the Pioneer Party, chaired by
\nMegawati's critical sister, Rachmawati Soekarnoputri.<\/p>\n
Similar cases have occurred nationwide, even in the party's
\nstrongholds such as Bali, Central Java, East Java and East
\nKalimantan.<\/p>\n
Disputes over gubernatorial elections are not the only
\nproblems plaguing the party. Megawati's leadership style has
\nupset some senior party members and former loyal lieutenants,
\nsuch as Dimyati Hartono and Eros Djarot, who eventually broke
\naway and founded their own parties.<\/p>\n
Other party members have also openly expressed their
\ndiscontent with Megawati's way of running the country and her
\nreluctance to push for reform inside of the government.<\/p>\n
Sophan Sophiaan and Indira Damayanti Soegondo quit the House
\nof Representatives, saying they could no longer tolerate the
\nparty's failure to maintain the trust of its constituents.<\/p>\n
Only recently, the party's secretary-general, Soetjipto,
\nthreatened to dismiss several House legislators should they not
\nchange their defiant attitude.<\/p>\n
Unconfirmed reports said staunch critics such as Meilono
\nSuwondo, Haryanto Taslam and Arifin Panigoro were among the party
\nrepresentatives on the black list.<\/p>\n
Arifin recently hosted a get-together with cross-party
\npoliticians known to be critical of Megawati.<\/p>\n
Some independent surveys have confirmed the party's tarnished
\nimage and loss of public trust.<\/p>\n
\"Don't you think that I cry when I sign those dismissal
\nletters. I always remember how these people fought alongside me
\nduring the difficult times our party experienced. But what else
\ncan I do if they continue to defy my orders?\" she said.<\/p>\n
The party began its two-day meeting on Tuesday to finalize its
\nlist of legislative candidates for the 2004 election.<\/p>\n
Megawati underlined that all the candidates selected should
\nespouse the aspirations of the people, and that those who lacked
\npopular support should be omitted from the list.<\/p>\n
\"We have learned from past experience that without a proper
\nelection process, the performance of our faction in the House
\nwill be unsatisfactory and that this only tarnishes the party's
\nimage,\" Megawati said.<\/p>\n
She said she would have zero tolerance for money politics or
\nother forms of corruption during the process of selecting
\ncandidates.<\/p>\n
\"Do not try to deceive me, because I will compare the data on
\neach candidate with his or her performance in the party,\"
\nMegawati said.<\/p>\n
The final list will be announced at the close of the meeting,
\nalthough several noted figures, including artists and analysts,
\nhave already secured places on the list.<\/p>",
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