Councillors say Mega is undemocratic

Councillors say Mega is undemocratic

Yuli Trisuwarni and Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Bandung/Medan

Several West Java councillors from the Indonesian Democratic
Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) lambasted their own chairwoman
for "discouraging democracy" ahead of the gubernatorial election.

A member of the PDI Perjuangan faction in the provincial
legislature, Dedy Hermansyah, said on Monday a group of 18
councillors would urge Chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri to
revoke her order which stipulates the sole nomination of Rudy
Harsa Tanaya, the current chairman of the party's provincial
chapter, for the deputy gubernatorial post.

"We are upset about (Megawati's) order to only nominate Rudy,
which is undemocratic because it undermines the will and choice
of our faction members," Dedy said.

The councillors, along with other party executives across the
country, will attend a national meeting in Jakarta from Monday to
Wednesday.

He said he and the other councillors who opposed Rudy's
candidacy, had been intimidated by a threatening mob, who were
sent to protest last week and demand that all of the party's 30
representatives in the legislature comply with Megawati's order.

Some 300 PDI Perjuangan heavies calling themselves the
Indonesian Young Bulls descended upon the legislature for the
third time in a week on Thursday to put pressure on PDI
Perjuangan councillors.

"This is a new kind of coercion, which will affect our
objectivity in choosing a future West Java leader," Dedy said.

Megawati, who is also the President, reportedly prefers a
gubernatorial candidate with a military background as Rudy has.

Chairman of the PDI Perjuangan faction in the West Java
legislature, Rahardi Zakaria, has proposed that Megawati fire any
councillor who refuses to vote for Rudy.

Apart from participating in a national meeting to discuss new
legislation on political parties and elections, PDI Perjuangan
executives from North Sumatra will seek chairwoman Megawati's
advice on the party's gubernatorial candidate during their stay
in Jakarta.

Budi Mulia Bangun, one of 30 North Sumatra councillors invited
to the meeting in Jakarta, said Megawati had asked the faction at
the provincial legislature to vote for one gubernatorial
candidate during the upcoming election in May.

Budi is one of six party members who have registered for the
gubernatorial election. Other candidates are House legislators
Benny Pasaribu and Maj. Gen. (ret) RK Sembiring Meliala,
provincial councillors Baskami Ginting and Jhon Toguh Damanik and
businessman Roy Fachraby Ginting.

The party's North Sumatra chapter has decided to name its
chairman Rudolf Pardede as its candidate. But to everybody's
surprise Rudolf registered for the deputy gubernatorial election.

Deputy chairman of the PDI Perjuangan faction at the
provincial legislature, Zakaria Bangun, confirmed Megawati's
concern of a split in the party ahead of the gubernatorial
election, which may cost the party's bid for the post.