East Java rejects PDI rival board
East Java rejects PDI rival board
JAKARTA (JP): The establishment of a new rival executive board for the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) has failed to generate support among many of those named to it because they were never consulted, nor informed about their inclusion.
PDI's East Java Chapter gave the strongest reaction to announcement. The chapter called on party chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri to take punitive action against Gerry Mbatemooy and his colleagues for their defiant move.
Sutjipto, the chairman of the chapter, was quoted by Antara as saying that no one should take Gerry's action seriously and that all should consider the rival board as nothing but a joke.
Those named onto the rival board are "the same old people who always caused trouble in the party", Sutjipto said, pointing out several names of people on the list, who made a similar attempt to take over the party's leadership several years ago.
Gerry, whose position in Megawati's board fell into doubt after he attempted to install one of Megawati's staunchest opponents as East Java chapter chairman, announced the line-up of the rival board on Thursday, saying that he was making the move to save the party, which has been undermined by allegations that some of its leaders were former communists.
He named Yusuf Merukh, a senior PDI leader, who was sidelined by Megawati, as the new party chairman, and himself, Sajid Soetjoro, Latief Poedjosakti, Edwin Hernawan Soekawati, Clara Sitompul, Djufri, Purwanto D.W., Yahya Theo, Sardjito Dharsoeki, Edi Djunaedi, Eddy Sukirman, Syamsi Hasan, Anang Hairin Noor, Alex Asmasubrata and Marcus Wauran as deputy chairmen.
F. As. Alwi was appointed as secretary-general. His deputies include Suparman Adiwijaya, Soepardan, Endung Soetrisno, Udi Suradi, M.Y. Soleh, Rusli Dahlan, Maswan, Sri Astati, Repita Silalahi and Lambertus Gainadara.
Gerry named Mrs. Pangerapan as treasurer. Vice treasurers are Neneng Amalia Dendawacana, Soetjipto and Abdul Djafar.
However, some of those named to the board said they were not consulted beforehand and were reluctant to comment on their inclusion until after they assessed the situation.
Alex Asmasoebrata, who played a key role in installing Megawati at the PDI congress in December 1993, said that the move by Gerry and his friends reflected the disappointment of some PDI members in the current party leadership.
"Under Megawati, PDI has become weak," he told Antara.
Alex, the incumbent, who lost the election for the chairmanship post of the PDI chapter in Jakarta this year, said he was never asked whether or not he would be willing to sit on the new board.
Gerry's move came only a few days after the West Java military command announced its finding that the chairman of PDI's chapter in West Java was widely suspected to have past communist links.
The allegation against Djadjang Kunaedi, who is supported by Megawati, seriously dented the party leadership.
Yusuf Merukh was quoted by Republika daily as saying that the formation of the rival board was a serious move to save the party and to relieve Megawati of her burden.
It is not "an end of the year joke", said Yusuf, the chairman of the new rival board.
He alleged that there are around 40 members of PDI in West Java who are suspected to have past communist links and around 300 in PDI throughout all of Indonesia.
Gerry said the new board plans to move in to the party headquarters on Jl. Diponegoro 58, Jakarta. (pwn)