East Java PDI rift goes on
East Java PDI rift goes on
JAKARTA (JP): Keeping the conflict aflame within the
Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), Home Affairs Minister Yogie
S.M. maintained his refusal yesterday to recognize leadership of
the party's East Java chapter.
Yogie told the House of Representatives (DPR) in a hearing
yesterday that the government cannot do anything to help solve
the bickering so long as there are still two figures each
claiming to be the legal leader of the East Java chapter.
"The government recognizes only one leader in every political
organization," Yogie told members of DPR Commission II overseeing
home affairs.
The chairmanship of the East Java PDI chapter is currently
claimed by both Sucipto and Latief Pudjosakti. Sucipto was
appointed by PDI boss Megawati Sukarnoputri and Latief received
the backing of East Java governor Basofi Sudirman.
The government's refusal to recognize Sucipto and drop its
favor of Latief has been widely seen as blatant interference in
the PDI's internal affairs.
The PDI's top leadership is currently split into two opposing
camps in the handling of the East Java party leadership crisis.
Megawati maintains Sucipto as the provincial party chapter
chairman but her assistants, Edwin Sukowati and Gerry Mbatemooy,
recognize Sucipto's arch rival, Latief.
The crisis stemmed from the party's failure to elect the new
chapter leader in a congress earlier this year. Sucipto beat
Latief in the election but the result was declared invalid when
the number of ballot papers counted was more than that of the
eligible voters.
With the conflict unresolved, the electoral board in the
congress elected Latief, which received strong backing from the
East Java governor but was opposed by Megawati.
Megawati stepped into the battle, choosing Sucipto for the
legitimate chapter chief with the East Java governor, who favored
Latief, refusing to recognize Sucipto.
Gerry Mbatemooy inaugurated Latief last week. In October,
Megawati had to cancel Sucipto's inauguration after the governor
refused to issue the permit.
Yogie said that the government has not recognized either
Sucipto or Latief. He maintained that Megawati should decide
first before a solution could be reached.
Internal problem
The minister has said that the leadership crisis is the PDI's
internal problem. "The government will not interfere with the
leadership crisis," he said.
The minister denied allegations that the East Java Governor
Basofi Sudirman siphoned funds to Latief to support his political
activities.
"It was not true that Basofi has given operational funds to
Latief," he told reporters after the hearing.
The government's perceived meddling in the PDI's affairs
provoked criticism from House, and PDI, member Soenarjo and AA
Oka Mahendra from the ruling political organization, Golkar.
Soenarjo said that Sucipto was the legitimate chapter chief
because he was appointed by the Megawati and that the government
should recognize him.
Oka Mahendra questioned why the government should repeatedly
promise it would not intervene in any congress of any major
organizations when the public has found that officials have their
own candidates for the chairmanship.
He reminded the minister not to interfere in PDI's internal
problems otherwise the public would have a "negative opinion"
about the party. (imn)