Govt tells PDI leaders to end bickering

Govt tells PDI leaders to end bickering

JAKARTA (JP): The government, professing neutrality in the
endless bickering within the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI),
urged party leaders yesterday to resolve the conflict before
Indonesia's 50th anniversary of independence on Aug. 17.

"Let's say it's the PDI's Independence Day gift to the
nation," Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security
Soesilo Soedarman told reporters after meeting with the PDI
executive board, headed by chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Megawati met with Soesilo yesterday to discuss PDI infighting
and a plan of the PDI Youth, a wing of the party, to hold a
congress in nearby Bogor next week. She was accompanied by
deputies Fatimah Achmad and Suparlan, as well as Secretary
General Alex Litaay and Deputy Secretary General Aryanto Taslan.

PDI has experienced a leadership crisis over the past year as
many dissenters, in Jakarta and the regions, have formed their
own executive boards to challenge Megawati and her board.

Soesilo said the government was taking a hands off approach to
the problem which, he said, concerned the internal affairs of the
party.

He likened himself to a "father" of bickering children. "As a
parent, I listen to their reports, but I urge them to seek a
peaceful solution to their disputes as soon as possible," he
said.

Megawati's opponents have also approached government officials
to present their side of the story.

The toughest challenge to Megawati's leadership has come from
East Java, traditionally a strong base for the party during
general elections.

Latief Pudjosakti, who is heading one of the two rival
executive boards in the East Java chapter, has enjoyed some
support from the East Java provincial administration. This has
prompted accusations from Megawati that authorities were taking
sides in the conflict, contrary to official pronouncements.

The government, however, has repeatedly stressed that it
recognizes only the executive board lead by Megawati.

Soesilo said yesterday that Megawati should heed the advise
given by East Java authorities who have repeatedly advised her to
talk to all the factions in the dispute, rather than force her
will by appointing her chosen officials to head the local
executive board.

Megawati told reporters that she reported to the minister on
her efforts to consolidate her organization and her efforts to
deal with the conflicts in East Java and South Sulawesi.

Asked whether she was hopeful that the internal conflict could
be resolved by Aug. 17, she replied, "Let's pray that it will
come to an end in the near future." According to Megawati, the
conflict in South Sulawesi was already on the way to being
resolved.

Megawati also reported to the minister on the meeting of the
party's youth faction on July 3-5 in Bogor.

Soesilo was invited to address the meeting which will be
attended by approximately 150 youths.

The minister made no commitment to attend since beginning next
week he will take on the responsibilities of acting foreign
minister during Minister Ali Alatas absence overseas. (rms)