Mega vows not to quit party post<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Megawati Soekarnoputri rejected on
\nTuesday suggestions that she quit her chairmanship of the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan).<\/p>\n
She insisted that only the party's extraordinary congress had
\nthe right to remove her from the chairmanship before her term of
\noffice expired, as stipulated in PDI Perjuangan's internal rules.<\/p>\n
PDI Perjuangan deputy secretary-general Pramono Anung said
\nafter a party national working meeting that Megawati could only
\nbe dismissed as party chairwoman if two-thirds of the
\napproximately 360 regency party branches wanted it so.<\/p>\n
"None of the party branches has shown an interest in holding
\nan extraordinary congress," Pramono said. "In fact, if the
\nmajority of the party members want her to quit her party post,
\nshe will gladly do so."<\/p>\n
Critics and observers have called on senior government
\nofficials to relinquish their political party posts so that they
\ncould be impartial in carrying out their state duties.<\/p>\n
Many Cabinet ministers are members of the executive board of
\ntheir respective parties. Vice President Hamzah Haz remains the
\nchairman of the Muslim-based United Development Party (PPP).
\nHouse of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung has also refused
\nto step down from his position as Golkar Party chairman and so
\nhas People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais as chief of
\nthe National Mandate Party (PAN).<\/p>\n
The call for Megawati to quit her party post also came from
\nDimyati Hartono, a senior member of PDI Perjuangan.<\/p>\n
"I said if she retained her party post, it would cause a
\nconflict of interest and that's not good. But I was condemned (by
\nfellow party members) for suggesting it," he said.<\/p>\n
The two-day national meeting, which will end on Wednesday, is
\nfocusing on revising PDI perjuangan's policies. (dja)<\/p>",
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