Dubious delegates haunt PDI-P congress
Dubious delegates haunt PDI-P congress
SEMARANG, Central Java (JP): Some 115 delegates at the
inaugural congress of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
(PDI Perjuangan) still were unable to attend the proceedings on
the second day because organizers doubted their legitimacy.
Their fate should be determined at the next plenary session,
said chairman of the organizing committee Mangara Siahaan.
"The organizing committee has no authority to handle them. Let
the congress decide," Mangara said.
A member of the steering committee, Mochtar Buchori, said the
congress had set up a three-person team to look into the matter.
"So far, three cases, including the delegations from
Purwodadi, Central Java and Riau, have been settled," he said.
The 115 delegates claim to represent the party's branches in
North Sumatra, West Java, Central Java, South Kalimantan, North
Sulawesi, South Sulawesi, Riau and Irian Jaya.
However, they were beaten to the congress by other delegates
who claimed to be the rightful representatives of the branches.
Only those recognized by the organizing committee were given the
necessary credentials, accommodation, meals and other facilities.
The two contesting delegations from North Sumatra were locked
in a war of words on Tuesday, each claiming to be the legitimate
representatives of their region.
Also remaining unresolved on Tuesday was the participation of
61 delegates who claim to represent East Timor and the question
of whether or not they have voting rights at the congress.
"There is a possibility that the congress would liquidate the
East Timor chapter," congress spokesman Saul de Ornay said.
Commander of the Aitarak East Timor militia Eurico Gueteres
argued, however, that the East Timor chapter should be retained.
"We are still Indonesians. Last year's poll didn't give us the
right to make East Timor an independent country," he said.
Meanwhile, at a plenary session on Tuesday, the congress ruled
that only the branches, and not the chapters, had voting rights
in the election of the chairperson. It also set up four
commissions to look into the party's statutes, programs,
organizations and one to draft rules on the election process of
the chairperson.
The central executive board was disbanded immediately after
chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri presented her report of
accountability at the congress on Tuesday morning.
Megawati was later elected to represent the outgoing executive
board in leading the congress, along with representatives from
each of the 28 provincial chapters.
Outside the congress venue, Megawati supporters from the East
Java city of Surabaya formed a convoy in pedicabs and cars to
condemn plans by party figures Eros Djarot and Dimyati Hartono to
contest the election of the chairperson against the incumbent
leader.
Another group of about 70 youths, meanwhile, marched to the
venue demanding the inclusion of political activist Pius
Lustrilanang on PDI Perjuangan's next executive board.
"Pius has a strong commitment to advocating youth interests,"
Oka Dwi Chandra, who coordinated the march, said. (swa/har/rms)