PDI sacks defiant officials<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) leadership
\nhas sacked a member of its executive board and a controversial
\nactivist in East Java for insubordination.<\/p>\n
The secretary general of the crisis-ridden party, Alex Litaay,
\nannounced here over the weekend that it had relieved Gerry
\nMbatemoy, a member of the executive board, of his post and
\ndismissed Latief Pudjosakti, the self-styled chairman of the East
\nJava chapter of the party, from PDI membership.<\/p>\n
Alex said that the decision was made at a meeting on Saturday,
\nwhich was attended by the party's chairwoman Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri and members of the central executive board.<\/p>\n
Gerry did not attend the meeting.<\/p>\n
Alex said that Gerry had been found guilty of forging the
\nPDI's seal which he used to legalize a letter of appointment for
\nLatief as chairman of the chapter.<\/p>\n
Alex added that Gerry's guilt was proven in the meeting.<\/p>\n
The secretary general said that before taking the measure, the
\nPDI leadership had twice warned Latief for his defiance to party
\npolicy, but he remained unmoved.<\/p>\n
Alex said that the party will soon discuss Latief's position
\nas deputy speaker of the East Java Legislative Council
\nrepresenting the PDI.<\/p>\n
He said that Saturday's decision was solid because it was
\nsigned by 25 members of the executive board.<\/p>\n
"They include those who until recently supported Gerry's act,"
\nthe secretary general said.<\/p>\n
He said that there is always a possibility for two officials
\nto be reinstated if they behave. "If they remain defiant the
\ndecision will stay," he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile Gerry said on Saturday that he would retaliate for
\nthe decision.<\/p>\n
He did not elaborate and only said, as quoted by the Surabaya-
\nbased newspaper Jawa Pos, "I will announce my plan to the press
\nlater."<\/p>\n
Gerry installed Latief as chairman of PDI's East Java chapter
\nin an unauthorized ceremony in Surabaya late last month. PDI
\nleader Megawati had earlier appointed Sutjipto, Latief's main
\nrival, for the post.<\/p>\n
Latief set up his own provincial leadership of the party in
\nSeptember after he lost an election to Sutjipto. The crisis got
\nout of hand after the local authorities threw their support
\nbehind Latief and refused to recognize Sutjipto. (tis)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pdi-sacks-defiant-officials-1447893297",
"image": ""
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