Rebel PDI activists told to set up own political party<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A leading member of the Indonesian Democratic
\nParty (PDI) yesterday said that party members who are discontent
\nwith the leadership of Megawati Soekarnoputri should form their
\nown party instead of trying to undermine the party.<\/p>\n
Aberson Marle Sihaloho, a PDI legislator and a staunch
\nsupporter of Megawati, said he was concerned with the brewing
\ninternal conflict within the party as many rebel members in the
\nregions have formed rival executive boards.<\/p>\n
Megawati has been touring the various provincial capitals in
\nthe past month to supervise the election of regional boards, some
\nof which ended in controversy when rebel members decided to form
\ntheir own boards.<\/p>\n
"I recommend that those unsatisfied with the election
\nmechanism form a new party and see if it can accommodate their
\nwishes," he said. "Although I would remain loyal to PDI, I would
\nfully support the creation of a new political party."<\/p>\n
The Indonesian law only recognizes three political
\norganizations which are allowed to contest the five-yearly
\ngeneral elections. PDI, a fusion of Christian and nationalist
\nforces, is the smallest party compared to the other two: Golkar
\nand the United Development Party (PPP).<\/p>\n
Megawati's presence in the PDI regional elections has been
\nattacked by some rebel party members as an attempt to meddle into
\nthe affairs of the regional boards.<\/p>\n
Angered by Megawati's "excessive" intervention in the election
\nof their leaders, PDI members in Aceh, North Sumatra and South
\nSulawesi have formed rival local board of executives.<\/p>\n
"I believe that those who set up rival executive boards do not
\nhave political commitment to PDI as they pledge," said Aberson,
\none of PDI's most outspoken legislators.<\/p>\n
Aberson said what in the surface seemed to be bitter conflicts
\nwas in fact the dynamic within PDI which is practicing democracy.
\n"Decision making is left to members instead of being dominated by
\nthe leaders," he said.<\/p>\n
Illegal act<\/p>\n
Megawati, who was elected by popular vote last year, has
\npersonally deplored the formation of rival executive boards in
\nthe three provinces, saying that the development was worrying and
\ncould tarnish PDI's image.<\/p>\n
She said that establishing a rival board was an illegal act by
\nparty members who look after their personal ambition instead of
\ndeveloping the party.<\/p>\n
The latest dissensions within PDI have come to the attention
\nof the ministry of home affairs, which controls the development
\nof political organizations.<\/p>\n
The ministry has apparently written to Megawati regarding the
\nlatest development in her party, but some party leaders construed
\nthis as another government attempt to meddle in the PDI's
\naffairs.<\/p>\n
Director general socio-political affairs of the ministry
\nSutoyo NK denied the suggestion that the government had
\nreprimanded the PDI's central executive board.<\/p>\n
Sutoyo said he had simply written to the PDI leadership urging
\nthem to resolve the problem after a number of PDI members in the
\nprovinces pressed him to do so.<\/p>\n
He argued that the formation of rival executive board was a
\nserious matter that the government and PDI should address soon.
\n(pan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rebel-pdi-activists-told-to-set-up-own-political-party-1447893297",
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