Chairman rules, says councilor

JAKARTA (JP): A chairman of a party faction at the city council, or the party's chairman, are the ones authorized to request a councilor to leave a council meeting, a councilor said yesterday.

M. Rodja of the United Development Party (PPP) faction was responding to a 'walk-out' by the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) members during the council's extraordinary plenary session Sunday.

The session was held to hear Governor Surjadi Soedirdja's speech on the city's anniversary, attended by Minister of Home Affairs Yogie S.M., former governors and other dignitaries.

The unplanned gesture by 11 out of 13 PDI faction members was done out of solidarity with member Sri Umi Sutjipto. Faction advisor Ismunandar had said she was asked to leave the meeting by the Speaker's wife, S. Renyda Ritonga, over a "personal" rift.

M. Rodja said if this was true she had no right to do so.

"It is the faction, or the party, that has the power over its members. Even the council speaker, the Governor, or the Minister can't ask a councilor to leave the meeting," Rodja said, adding he was surprised to know of the action.

"I was chatting with PDI member Abdulgani on the absence of his colleagues, I didn't know whether their absence was official or not."

On Sunday, Ismunandar, also a Council Deputy, had said he was requested by a protocol staff member of the council to ask Sri Umi to leave "to avoid possible disturbance." The official had said it was Renyda who requested Maya to leave.

Sri Umi, better known as Maya, had refused, saying she had every right to be at the meeting. Renyda had denied telling Maya to leave. Maya walked out only when other members left the hall.

Reiterating an earlier statement by Council Speaker M.H. Ritonga, Rodja said yesterday it was fortunate that the Sunday meeting was not one in which a decision had to be reached. (ste)