Megawati urged to meet with E. Java branches<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): East Java Governor Basofi Soedirman urged
\nyesterday Megawati Soekarnoputri, the chairperson of the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party, to meet with leaders of the party's
\nbranches in his province to resolve their conflict once and for
\nall.<\/p>\n
Basofi came to Jakarta yesterday to explain to Minister of
\nHome Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M. his administration's policy
\nregarding the party's conflict in the province.<\/p>\n
The governor has come under fire for his refusal to allow
\nMegawati to visit Surabaya to install Sutjipto as the chairman of
\nthe East Java chapter. Following the criticisms, Yogie said last
\nweek he would summon Basofi to explain the situation.<\/p>\n
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Basofi said Megawati
\nshould meet with the leaders of the party's branches in East Java
\nto resolve their differences.<\/p>\n
\"I'm encouraging her to hold the meeting anytime, anywhere. I
\nam sure the party's branches are ready. It is an internal problem
\nwhich they must solve themselves,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The East Java chapter of the party has been split into two
\ncamps. One camp, led by Sutjipto, supports Megawati and the other
\ncamp, led by Latief Pudjosakti, rejects her leadership.<\/p>\n
Latief was the chairman of the chapter, but a congress to
\nelect the new leader late last year ended inconclusively. Latief
\nclaimed he had won the election but Megawati refused to accept
\nthe election and appointed Sutjipto instead. However, she has not
\nbeen able to install Sutjipto because the East Java provincial
\ngovernment refused to issue a permit for the gathering. The last
\ntime she tried was on Monday, and she was rejected again.<\/p>\n
Because of this incident, the East Java government has been
\naccused of siding with Latief in the conflict, a claim Basofi
\nfirmly rejected yesterday, stressing that his administration
\nrecognizes neither camp in the conflict.<\/p>\n
But Basofi said he would not allow the installation of
\nSutjipto by Megawati to take place because he was not elected in
\naccordance to the party's rules.<\/p>\n
The governor explained to reporters the chronology of the
\nparty's East Java congress, which he called the \"root of the
\nproblem\".<\/p>\n
He said Sutjipto won the election first time round but there
\nappeared to be vote rigging because there were four ballots too
\nmany.<\/p>\n
So the election was annulled and the congress agreed that the
\nchairman should be elected by a committee.<\/p>\n
\"Five of the eight committee members chose Latief but the
\nparty's central board took over the congress because it
\nconsidered the committee meeting to be progressing arduously. The
\nboard then issued a decree and stated Sutjipto as chairman,\"
\nBasofi said.<\/p>\n
Basofi said Latief also had the support of 32 of the 37
\nbranches in East Java.<\/p>\n
\"Both feel that they are elected constitutionally,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Basofi said the government would not take the matter into its
\nhands because \"it will only be seen as a meddling of internal
\naffairs\". (pwn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/megawati-urged-to-meet-with-e-java-branches-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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