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)