PDI-P dismisses members over gubernatorial election<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Oyos Saroso, The Jakarta Post,
\nJakarta\/Bandarlampung<\/p>\n
In another show of deep cracks within the Indonesian Democratic
\nParty of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), five functionaries in Lampung
\nhave been dismissed from their posts for defying directives
\nregarding the recent gubernatorial election.<\/p>\n
PDI Perjuangan deputy chairman Roy B.B. Janis announced the
\ndecision on Tuesday, saying that the disciplinary move would not
\ndeprive the five party officials of their membership in the
\nparty.<\/p>\n
\"We have decided to discharge them from their official
\npositions in the party, but not dismiss them as party members,\"
\nRoy told a media conference that followed the party's weekly
\nmeeting, presided over by chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri.<\/p>\n
Lampung is one of the party's influential bases, where the
\nparty won 28 of the 75 seats on offer in the 1999 general
\nelection.<\/p>\n
In a decree signed by Megawati and secretary-general Soetjipto
\non Dec. 28, 2002, the party stripped Abbas Hadisunyoto, Prabawa,
\nFirmansyah, Ansory Yunus and Alzier Dianis Thabranie of their
\nrespective posts as a member of the party's faction in the
\nprovincial legislature, faction secretary, chairman of the
\nfaction, chairman of the party's provincial chapter and chairman
\nof the party's South Lampung branch.<\/p>\n
Based on the proposed law on composition and structure of the
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly, Regional Representative Assembly,
\nHouse of Representatives and regional legislatures, a party has
\nthe authority to remove its representatives from those
\ninstitutions.<\/p>\n
This is the second time that the party has handed out heavy
\npunishment to disloyal members since the dismissal of Tarmidi
\nSoehardjo as the chairman of the party's Jakarta chapter for
\nchallenging Megawati's choice of incumbent Sutiyoso as the
\ncandidate for the gubernatorial post in the capital last
\nSeptember.<\/p>\n
Megawati, who is also the President, had ordered that all
\nLampung provincial legislative councillors representing the party
\nsupport the election of then incumbent Oemarsono and Samsuari
\nRyacudu, a brother of Army Chief of Staff Ryamizard Ryacudu, as
\ngovernor and deputy governor, respectively.<\/p>\n
Like Sutiyoso, Oemarsono also has a military background.<\/p>\n
Abbas, who is the Lampung legislature speaker, and his company
\nnominated Alzier and Ansory for the gubernatorial and deputy
\ngubernatorial posts, ignoring Megawati's stern warning. The last
\nminute candidates won the election, beating the pre-race
\nfavorites and PDI Perjuangan's official nominees, Oemarsono and
\nSamsuari 39-33, in the run-off on Dec. 30.<\/p>\n
The unexpected victory angered Megawati during the party's
\nmeeting on Tuesday, a source told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
\"She lashed out at the Lampung councillors who had rejected
\nher candidates, but could not provide better choices,\" the source
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Also speaking at the media conference, Soetjipto said the
\nparty would ask the government to annul the results of the
\ngubernatorial election in Lampung.<\/p>\n
\"The elected governor does not represent the party's faction,\"
\nSoetjipto said.<\/p>\n
The gubernatorial election has sparked a controversy as
\nprovincial legislature speaker Abbas failed to read out a
\ntelegram from Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno, who
\nrequested a delay of the process, pending clarification from the
\nlegislature that Alzair was fit and proper to run for the
\ngovernorship.<\/p>\n
Alzair, a businessman who chairs the provincial chamber of
\ncommerce, has reportedly been involved in embezzling hundreds of
\ntons of fertilizer, which cost state fertilizer producer PT Pupuk
\nSriwijaya Rp 10 billion. Admitting that he was in debt with the
\ncompany, Alzair said the case was not a crime as the police had
\nnot investigated it.<\/p>\n
Following a rally last week to protest Alzair's eligibility
\nand alleged involvement in money politics in the gubernatorial
\nelection, deputy provincial police Sr. Comr. Yusuf Supriadi
\npromised to investigate the allegations as soon as possible.<\/p>\n
The public has three days to verify the elected governor's
\ntrack record.<\/p>\n
Alzair failed to win the race for the post of Lampung regent
\nin 2000 after a newspaper reported his alleged involvement in car
\nsmuggling.<\/p>",
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