Defection report causes confusion among PDI leaders
Defection report causes confusion among PDI leaders
JAKARTA (JP): Many leaders of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) were still perplexed yesterday by the report that Secretary-General Alex Litaay has defected to a rival camp which has been challenging the leadership of Megawati Sukarnoputri.
Alex himself was not available to confirm or deny the report. At home, his wife said Alex had left for a PDI meeting, but he was nowhere to be seen at the party's headquarters yesterday.
A meeting did take place yesterday, but Alex was not present. Nor was Megawati.
Soetardjo Soerjoguritno, PDI deputy chairman, said Alex left a message with the secretariat that he could not attend the meeting because he had a headache.
Soetardjo and many other PDI members had earlier cast doubts about the reported defection, saying that it was simply a ploy by Jusuf Merukh, the self-appointed chairman of the rival PDI executive board.
But in the absence of any denial from Alex throughout the day yesterday, the report was gaining currency even among the early skeptics.
If the report is correct, it is the biggest blow to the leadership of Megawati, who has been struggling to retain her footing in the party in the face of endless bickering by the various camps.
It was Jusuf Merukh who made the shocking disclosure on Thursday that he had made a big coup by winning over Alex, previously thought to be a loyal supporter of Megawati.
Jusuf has formed his own executive board, saying that he had taken the action to save the party, which was being infiltrated by communist elements. Jusuf named himself as its chairman and Alex as one of the deputies.
He said the day Alex goes back to the party headquarters will be the day when he and his board also move in to take over the leadership from Megawati.
Soetardjo said that in view of Alex's failure to turn up yesterday, the PDI executive board has decided to write to him to demand an explanation. "We're giving him 10 days to respond."
"Ideally, he should call a press conference to make his position known," he told reporters.
Yesterday, Soetardjo was busy trying to minimize any damage caused by the reported defection and the establishment of the rival board by Jusuf.
The party will continue with its program, he said.
Other board members also expressed confusion and said they had been calling each other up yesterday seeking an explanation of where Alex's loyalty falls. They also tried to contact Alex at his home, but could not reach him.
"It seems he is hiding," said one member who asked to remain anonymous.
Former PDI chairman Soerjadi, who was replaced by Megawati in 1993, also expressed disbelief that Alex would betray Megawati.
Soerjadi told reporters that he knew Alex personally and thought that he was not the type to do such a thing.
"Even if he did cross over to the rival board, I don't think PDI should worry and should deal with this `disaster' wisely," he said.
Soerjadi, who retains some influence in the party, said he was confident that the executive board under Megawati would be able to resolve the problem.
Andi Chaerul Manggabarani, who as deputy secretary-general probably knows best about Alex, expressed his surprise and disbelief. "Alex and Megawati get along fine. There have been no indications at all the he would defect."
Andi said he would not believe the report until it was confirmed by Alex himself. "If he had any complaint, he could have raised it at the board. You don't just defect to the other side."
The government yesterday maintained that Alex' defection, whether true or not, is the internal affair of PDI.
"They should resolve the problem by themselves. The government won't intervene," said Sutoyo N.K., the director general for socio-political affairs at the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The government's message is clear, he said: "PDI should resolve its problems and unite the various forces."
Sutoyo had earlier stressed that the government only recognizes one PDI leadership board -- the one lead by Megawati. (rms/emb)