Authorities not aware of new PDI conflict

JAKARTA (JP): The East Java administration said over the weekend that it was not aware of any conflict within the local chapter of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), a situation that worsened following the unauthorized installation of a new branch leader.

The head of the provincial directorate of political affairs, Soeryadi, said over the weekend that he had no knowledge of the fact that a member of the party's central executive board in Jakarta had installed Latief Pudjosakti as chairman of the PDI East Java chapter in Surabaya on Friday.

Latief set up his self-styled PDI chapter after he refused to recognize Soetjipto, his main rival, who was appointed by party's chairman, Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Soetjipto beat Latief in a local congress early this year but the election result was declared invalid when the number of ballot papers counted exceeded that of the eligible ballots.

Megawati later recognized Soetjipto as the new chairman of the East Java chapter of the party but Latief remained defiant.

As the crisis dragged on two members of Megawati's executive boards threw their support behind Latief. One of the two, Gerry Mbatemoy, installed Latief in Friday's ceremony in Surabaya.

Soeryadi told the Surabaya-based newspaper Jawa Pos that his office, which is responsible for political developments in East Java, could not do anything to prevent Latief's installation. The PDI politician had reported to the local authorities that the gathering was only meant as a meeting between local and national leaders of the party.

"We do not suspect the motives of Latief's activities, which were conducted at his residence," he said. Soeryadi added that he was in Jakarta when the meeting took place on Friday.

Soeryadi added that the East Java administration does not recognize Latief as the local PDI chairman.

"The ceremony at Latief's house will not solve the crisis," he said.

The ceremony took place as the police, which usually break up unauthorized meetings anywhere else in the country, did not act against Latief's installation. A spokesman for the national police said last week that it was up to the PDI to solve its internal squabbles.

In the past, the local police authorities have been criticized for not issuing a permit for Megawati's installation of Soetjipto.

Megawati was not available for comment. (tis)