Chairman rules, says councilor

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)