Focus shifts to PDI-P secretary-general
SEMARANG (JP): With Megawati Soekarnoputri's reelection to the top post in the Indonesian Democratic of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) a foregone conclusion, everyone is now anticipating who will become secretary-general.
Delegations from North Sulawesi, East Java, West Java, East Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan and South Sumatra asked the congress to pick deputy chairman Sutjipto as the new secretary- general to accompany Megawati in leading the party in the next five years.
Another deputy chairman Roy B.B. Janis, who also chairs the Jakarta provincial chapter, gained support from the Jakarta and Manado delegations, while Bondan Gunawan, acting State Secretary, was nominated by the Brebes, Central Java delegation.
The congress steering committee chairman V.B. da Costa said on Thursday that Roy deserved the secretary general position not only because he resides in Jakarta, but because he also represents east Indonesia. He was raised in North Sulawesi in the capital of Manado.
Several new names joined the race for the party's next secretary-general and deputy chairman at the party's first congress held here yesterday.
Besides Roy and Bondan, Chris Siner Key Timu -- a member of the government critics group known as Petisi 50 group -- was also vying for the secretary-general position. His nomination gained support from all the Flores Island and East Nusa Tenggara delegations.
Despite their slim chances, Eros Djarot and Dimyati Hartono refused to back down from their bids for the party's top position. The two candidates claimed on Thursday to secure support for their nominations.
Dimyati received support from delegations representing Gorontalo, North Sulawesi, Fakfak and Jayapura in Papua, while Eros won the hearts of delegations from Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan and Hulubanyu Ilir in South Sumatra.
Da Costa and his colleague Mochtar Buchori said that only a few of the 241 attending delegations supported Dimyati and Eros while a majority backed Megawati.
A member of the congress steering committee, who requested anonymity, revealed that many party branches failed to name their candidates.
"They declined to mention their candidates in the plenary session because of the unfavorable conditions in the congress," da Costa said.
The election for the chief post will take place on Saturday.
Intimidation
Dimyati reiterated that the atmosphere of the congress was no longer democratic because many delegations who supported his candidacy were too intimidated to enter the debate.
"Many delegates told me that the situation in the congress was so terrible that they lacked courage to freely express their opinions," he said.
He added that all participants, including the existing candidates, must accept the fact that the congress might eventually decide to nominate Megawati.
"However, all delegations should be free in nominating their candidates before the congress makes a decision," he said.
Thursday's plenary session was twice disrupted by Kolaka in Southeast Sulawesi and Palangkaraya in Central Kalimantan delegations. Only after Megawati intervened was order restored.
"Megawati is powerful because participants seem to only listen to her," a participant said.
Cornelis Lay, who is attending the congress as an observer, said that the congress proceeded in a democratic fashion and that most delegations managed to convey their agendas to the congress without any problems.
"Most PDI Perjuangan supporters want Megawati to lead the party," he said, adding that he did not see any indication of bribery or other forms of intimidating behavior behind the nomination of candidates.
The congress still has to hash out an accountability report of the outgoing executive board, review the party's statute, along with future party programs and the party chief's election rules before it concludes on Saturday. (swa/har/rms)