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)