Reformists challenge Mega's leadership<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Several weeks before the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
\n(PDI-P) convenes a national congress in March, disgruntled party
\nmembers are beginning to flex their muscles to block the
\nreelection of PDI-P leader Megawati Soekarnoputri.<\/p>\n
Calling themselves the \"PDI-P Reform Movement\", the
\npoliticians, led by businessman-cum-politician Arifin Panigoro,
\nhave proposed radical changes in the party's organizational
\nstructure.<\/p>\n
\"We need to bring reform to the PDI-P, otherwise the party
\nwill collapse in the next five years. The most important thing is
\nthat we have to control the party leader,\" the secretary of the
\nmovement, Didi Supriyanto, told The Jakarta Post here on Sunday.<\/p>\n
He said his group would introduce its anti-Megawati political
\nmovement during a discussion at the Syahid Jaya Hotel in Jakarta
\non Monday.<\/p>\n
Besides making changes to the organizational structure, Didi
\nsaid the PDI-P needed to find the right person to replace
\nMegawati, a former president.<\/p>\n
The movement emerged after Megawati lost the presidential
\nelection in September to former security chief Susilo Bambang
\nYudhoyono. Under her leadership, the PDI-P received the second
\nmost number of votes in the legislative election.<\/p>\n
Megawati was elected to lead the party in 1993 when it was
\nstill known as the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI). Following
\nintervention by the Soeharto government that led to an internal
\nrift, she changed the party's name to PDI-P. She was elected to a
\nsecond term as the party's leader in 1998.<\/p>\n
At the party's extraordinary congress in 2000, Megawati
\nmaintained her hold over the party and was again elected its
\nleader.<\/p>\n
The PDI-P Reform Movement has named several possible
\nreplacements for Megawati, including her younger brother Guruh
\nSoekarnoputra, Kwik Kian Gie, Laksamana Sukardi, Roy BB Janis,
\nSophan Sophiaan and Arifin.<\/p>\n
The group does not want to kick Megawati completely out of the
\ncountry's second largest party, proposing her as a possible
\nmember of the PDI-P Steering Council -- a new body designed to
\nsupervise the work of the party's executives.<\/p>\n
The Arifin-led \"PDI-P Reform Movement\" resembles a recent
\nattempt by Kwik Kian Gie, a former national development planning
\nminister, to introduce change to the party.<\/p>\n
Called the \"Movement to Purify the PDI-P\", Kwik's effort was
\ndriven by his anger over what he saw as high-ranking party
\nofficials taking advantage of their ties to Megawati for their
\npersonal benefit.<\/p>\n
Kwik has frequently blamed these officials for Megawati's
\ndefeat in the presidential election and for the party's failure
\nto win the legislative election.<\/p>\n
Didi acknowledged similarities between his group and Kwik's
\nmovement.<\/p>\n
However, Meilono Suwondo, who has been campaigning for reform
\nin the PDI-P for the past three years, was not optimistic the new
\nmovement could bring substantial change to the party.<\/p>\n
\"This idea for reform within the PDI-P has been initiated only
\ntwo or three months before the congress. I doubt it will bear
\nfruit,\" said Meilono, who added that he was invited to attend
\nMonday's discussion.<\/p>\n
Responding to the movement, PDI-P deputy secretary general
\nPramono Anung Wibowo said it was normal for a party to have
\ninternal factions.<\/p>\n
\"It is part of the political dynamism inside a party. The PDI-
\nP cannot be led solely by one group,\" Pramono told the Post.<\/p>\n
Speaking at an anniversary event for the party last week,
\nMegawati urged her supporters to beware of money politics ahead
\nof the congress, which will be held in Bali.<\/p>",
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