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)