Basofi unaware of ban gathering

Basofi unaware of ban gathering

SURABAYA, East Java: Governor Basofi Sudirman claims he knows nothing about the cancellation last week of a religious event organized by the minority Indonesian Democratic Party's (PDI's) Probolinggo branch.

Basofi was quoted by Antara as saying that he never banned the event, intended to consist of Koran-reading and a celebration of a Moslem holiday Nuzulul Quran.

Official permission for the event was canceled by the local government's social-political office because of a report that Basofi had suspended his approval for the event.

PDI chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri and several members of the PDI central board met with Basofi on Tuesday to discuss the leadership of PDI's East Java branch. Both Sutjipto, who has the backing of the PDI's central board, and his opponent Latif Pudjosakti, who has strong government support, claim to be the rightful leaders of the branch. (pwn)