Dimyati removed as PDI Perjuangan faction chairman

Dimyati removed as PDI Perjuangan faction chairman

JAKARTA (JP): The fallout from the Indonesian Party of
Struggle's (PDI Perjuangan) controversial congress continued with
Monday's revelation that Dimyati Hartono will be replaced as
chairman of the party's faction at the House of Representatives
(DPR).

Dimyati, who nominated himself as an alternative party
candidate to chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri during the March
congress, will be replaced as head of the faction at the House by
Arifin Panigoro.

PDI Perjuangan deputy secretary-general Pramono Anung
confirmed the replacement, but denied it was politically
motivated due to Dimyati's decision to contest the top party
post.

"The replacement will be (officially) decided in the party's
central board's meeting on Tuesday," legislator Pramono told The
Jakarta Post.

He claimed that the replacement was necessary because Dimyati
was no longer an executive on the party's central board.

He said a faction chairman is a representative of the party's
central board at the House according to the party's internal
regulations.

"But it (the replacement) will not affect Dimyati as the House
member from the party," Pramono said.

Dimyati could not be reached for comment on Monday.

Diehard Megawati loyalists ensured that there was no potential
contenders to Megawati's reelection. She eventually ran for the
position unopposed.

The law professor of Semarang-based Diponegoro University
along with noted party activist Eros Djarot, who nominated
themselves as candidates, have since been sidelined from the
inner executive circle.

Since then Dimyati, usually a very vocal and visible
legislature, has rarely been seen in the House.

During House leadership meetings, Arifin had already been
attending on behalf of the PDI Perjuangan faction in Dimyati's
absence. (jun)