PDI-P fires dissidents, internal rift worsens<\/p>\n
Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Conflict within the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-
\nP) reached its climax on Tuesday as the party's central board
\ndismissed 12 members of a splinter group which has been fighting
\nfor internal reform.<\/p>\n
As a consequence of their expulsion from the party, some of
\nthem who are serving as House of Representatives members will
\nface imminent ouster from the legislative body in accordance with
\nthe law on composition of legislative bodies.<\/p>\n
Refusing to accept their dismissal, they said the central
\nboard under the leadership of Megawati Soekarnoputri had no
\nauthority to take such harsh action, saying the legitimacy of the
\ncentral board was being contested in court.<\/p>\n
PDI-P deputy chairman Jacob Nuwa Wea said the move was decided
\nin Tuesday's weekly executive meeting, which was presided over by
\nMegawati. The board said the 12 members were proven guilty of
\nfailing to accept the results of the party's second congress in
\nBali early in April, which reelected Megawati as party leader for
\n2005-2010 period.<\/p>\n
\"They have committed a serious violation for rejecting the
\nresults of the second congress in Bali,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The figures given the axe were Arifin Panigoro, Laksamana
\nSukardi, Sophan Sophiaan, Roy B.B. Janis, Didi Supriyanto,
\nPostdam Hutasoit, Tjiandra Wijaya, Pieters Sutanto, Pius
\nLustrilanang, Angelina Pattiasina, Imam Mundjiat and Sukowaluyo
\nMintohardjo.<\/p>\n
\"The decision is final and the executive board will take
\naccount of it in the next congress,\" Nuwa Wea said.<\/p>\n
PDI-P secretary-general Pramono Anung Wibowo said other
\nmembers of the splinter group would be persuaded to accept the
\ncongress' results, including Megawati's reelection as party
\nleader.<\/p>\n
In response to the dismissal, Sukowaluyo said he and his
\ncolleagues would ignore the decision until the South Jakarta
\nDistrict Court delivered a verdict on their lawsuit.<\/p>\n
\"Megawati and the executive board have no authority to make
\nsuch a decision because the court is still hearing our case,\"
\nSukowaluyo said.<\/p>\n
A number of party chapters and reform-minded figures are
\nfighting in court the legitimacy of the party's second congress
\nthat granted Megawati with prerogatives they said were against
\nthe party's standing orders.<\/p>\n
Arifin and many other senior members of the party started a
\nreform movement aimed at replacing Megawati who they said was
\nresponsible for the party's defeat in the 2004 legislative and
\npresidential elections.<\/p>\n
The reform movement has won support from respected figures
\nsuch as Abdul Madjid and Mochtar Buhori.<\/p>\n
Sukowaluyo said PDI-P lawmakers who are part of the reform
\ngroup would seek mediation through the President and the Supreme
\nCourt if they were recalled from the legislative body.<\/p>\n
\"We will fight it out and let party members and supporters
\ndecide their legitimate leaders,\" Sukowaluyo said.<\/p>\n
Arifin and Laksamana, who have financially supported the
\nreform movement, have said they are seeking support from party
\nchapters and branches for a planned extraordinary congress to
\noust Megawati and set up an alternative party.<\/p>\n
Roy said many party's provincial chapters and regional
\nbranches had joined the reform movement which was aimed at
\nrestoring the party's image ahead of the 2009 general election.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pdi-p-fires-dissidents-internal-rift-worsens-1447893297",
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