E. Java PDI has new chair

JAKARTA: The central board of executives of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) chose Sucipto Saturday as the new chairman of the party's East Java chapter.

The board's intervention was meant to end weeks of uncertainty surrounding the election of the new chapter chairman, which had been marred by open conflict between the rival camps.

It dashed Latief Pudjosakti's hopes for re-election. Frustrated by PDI chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri's intervention, he has formed a rival local board of executives, in which he elected himself chairman.

The crisis rocked the minority party after last month's election in the East Java city of Malang won by Sucipto was annulled because the number of ballots cast was four more than that of number of eligible voters.

Sucipto is an ardent supporter of Megawati, while Latief is her critic. (pan)