Dissenters will not be dismissed: PDI

Dissenters will not be dismissed: PDI

JAKARTA (JP): The challenged executive board of the Indonesian
Democratic Party (PDI) softened its stance yesterday, saying it
would not immediately dismiss a group of dissenters pushing for a
fresh chairman election.

The board, who set yesterday as the deadline for the party's
splinter group to return to the fold or face dismissal, still
expects them to fall in line, according to deputy chairman
Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno, a loyalist of embattled chief Megawati
Soekarnoputri.

"We won't hastily dismiss the dissenters, as we still expect
them to come back," Soetardjo said in a press conference at the
party's headquarters yesterday. He did not give a new deadline
for the dissenters.

He also asked all PDI members to boycott the congress planned
by the dissenters, as it is against the party's statutes.

A group of breakaways led by deputy chief Fatimah Achmad has
decided to hold the congress and chairman election at the
Pangkalan Mansyur Haj Dormitory in Medan, North Sumatra, from
June 20 to June 24.

Despite Megawati's protests, a number of senior government
officials, including Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M.
who is the country's "political patron", have openly endorsed the
gathering.

Soetardjo, however, said the party still believed the
government would handle the rift in the party wisely.

During the press conference, Soetardjo also revealed that the
board has yet to receive a reply to its letter of complaint to
Armed Forces Commander Gen. Feisal Tanjung.

In the letter, Megawati's board said that a number of
individuals in the Armed Forces have pressured a number of PDI
branches to attend the congress.

Another Megawati's loyalist, deputy secretary-general of the
board Haryanto Taslam said that, as of yesterday, 64 branches
have withdrawn their support for Fatimah's plan and pledged
loyalty to Megawati.

"What will the dissenters say when they find out that there
are only 77 branches left that support the congress?" he
questioned. "This means that the so-called demand for a congress
is not made by the majority of the 306 branches."

There have been claims and counter-claims from both camps. In
the beginning, Fatimah's group claimed that 215 of the 306
branches called for a congress. Megawati's camp later disputed
the statement and said that there was evidence that only 141
branches did so.

Meanwhile, calls for the two camps to call a truce, lest the
rift grow into a major open conflict that threatened national
stability, kept pouring in.

Minister of Defense and Security Edi Sudradjat said in
Yogyakarta yesterday that the party should immediately resolve
the rift by holding talks between the two camps. However, he
pointed out that the conflict should be managed through the
congress.

"The planned congress should help settle the party's internal
problem," he was quoted by Antara as saying.

He declined to say whether he would attend the congress, which
would be another sign of government endorsement.

In Surabaya, leading PDI member Soetjipto said that if the
congress took place, about one million PDI members and supporters
would march to Jakarta to display their support for Megawati.

"We are planning to see the Minister of Home Affairs Moch.
Yogie S.M., who initially recommended the congress," he told The
Jakarta Post.

Soetjipto is also embroiled in a leadership conflict. He is
Megawati's man for the East Java chapter leadership, but has been
challenged by self-styled chairman Latief Pudjosakti.

Also in Surabaya, a number of Megawati supporters yesterday
burned a picture of deputy House Speaker Soerjadi, who they
claimed to be masterminding the planned congress. (imn/15)