Yogie inaugurates PDI congress<\/p>\n
By M.M.I. Ahyani<\/p>\n
MEDAN, North Sumatra (JP): The opening day of a congress
\nconvened by breakaways of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI)
\nproceeded almost problem-free in the heavily-guarded Pangkalan
\nMasyhur Haj Dormitory yesterday.<\/p>\n
After the opening session and keynote addresses by Minister of
\nHome Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M. and Armed Forces (ABRI) Chief Gen.
\nFeisal Tanjung, the congress moved to closed sessions, first to
\nhear a report of accountability from the Central Executive Board,
\nand later to hear to views of each of the branches present.<\/p>\n
\"Thankfully, everything proceeded smoothly,\" congress
\nsecretary Ismunandar said during a break following the afternoon
\nsessions yesterday.<\/p>\n
Lt. Gen. Syarwan Hamid, ABRI's chief of Sociopolitical
\nAffairs, said that the military's role in the congress was
\nlimited to ensuring the security of the participants. He denied
\nsuggestions that ABRI was involved in power intrigues.<\/p>\n
Congress organizers said they hope to conclude the meeting on
\nSaturday, two days earlier than originally anticipated.<\/p>\n
Today, the participants will hear more views from branch
\nrepresentatives. The congress is expected to elect a new Central
\nExecutive Board lineup tomorrow.<\/p>\n
The only incident to report yesterday was the beating of a
\nreporter from the Jakarta-based newspaper Republika by a security
\nguard.<\/p>\n
Party officials Untung Sutomo, KH Kholil Murad and Romulus
\nSihombing later apologized to the reporter after other
\njournalists threatened to boycott the congress altogether.<\/p>\n
Fatimah Achmad -- a senior member of the Central Executive
\nBoard who is chairing the congress -- also made a point of
\nmeeting with journalists and to personally apologize for the
\nincident.<\/p>\n
Soerjadi<\/p>\n
The smooth proceedings pave the way for the election of
\nSoerjadi, who led the party from 1986-1993, to replace Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri as party chief.<\/p>\n
The majority of congress participants have said that they
\nintend to nominate Soejardi for the post.<\/p>\n
Untung Sutomo, a member of the congress organizing committee,
\nsaid that on the eve of the congress, at least 109 branches have
\nsaid they would support Soerjadi's election. More branches are
\nexpected to fall in line before Saturday's election.<\/p>\n
Megawati, who has denounced the congress as violating the
\nparty's statues and bylaws, is not taking part in the meeting.<\/p>\n
Congress organizers said that 283 of PDI's 306 branches from
\nall 27 provinces are represented at the congress, which meant
\nthat they have fulfilled the necessary quorum.<\/p>\n
\"This congress is legal,\" Fatimah declared at the opening
\nsession.<\/p>\n
Fatimah, formerly Megawati's deputy, formed a breakaway group
\nwith 15 other central board members to organize the congress. The
\nmembers claimed they had a mandate from the party's regional
\nbranches. On Wednesday, Megawati fired the 16 board members.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Soerjadi, who is taking part in the congress,
\ndenied accusations that he had positioned himself to be re-
\nelected, stressing that the regional demands for his return fully
\nreflected the wishes of the \"undercurrents\".<\/p>\n
\"Who am I and what power do I have to influence 283 branches
\nto come here and then to elect me?\" he asked reporters.<\/p>\n
Asked about the way the party booted him out in 1993 because
\nof impending criminal prosecution, he said: \"That was really sad.
\nBut why feel sorry forever? That was forgotten and forgiven.\"<\/p>\n
Soerjadi remained in the shadows after he lost the
\nchairmanship in 1993, sitting as deputy speaker in the House of
\nRepresentatives. The criminal prosecution was dropped after he
\nlost the leadership contest.<\/p>\n
While his ouster in 1993 was encouraged by the military, his
\nreturn this time has the tacit blessing from the authorities.<\/p>\n
Gen. Feisal said yesterday that the main thing is that the
\nparty determines its leadership by consensus. Meanwhile, Minister
\nYogie said the leadership question was something that the PDI
\ncongress has to determine independently.<\/p>\n
Asked by reporters about the military's past opposition to
\nSoerjadi, Feisal said: \"That was then. That is over.\"<\/p>\n
Soerjadi also declined to say if he would give Megawati a post
\nin his central board should he get elected. \"Let's not make any
\nassumption at this stage,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said however that he believed that Megawati would bow out
\ngracefully if the congress decided not to reelect her.<\/p>\n
\"She's a democrat. She would not reject the decision of the
\ncongress,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Untung Sutomo meanwhile said that congress organizers had to
\nraise Rp 1 billion ($440,000) to finance the gathering.<\/p>\n
Some of the money was provided by the government. \"It wouldn't
\nbe ethical for me to say how much the government has given,\"
\nUntung said.<\/p>\n
Feisal -- Page 2<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/yogie-inaugurates-pdi-congress-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }