Indira determined to quit, PDI Perjuangan won't accept
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The faction head of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) in the House of Representatives, Roy B.B. Janis, said on Tuesday his faction would not accept Indira Damayanti Sugondo's resignation from the House.
"There is no valid reason for her to quit," Roy argued.
Indira, meanwhile, insisted that only her constituents could prevent her from leaving her post.
"My reasons for quitting the faction were not considered strong enough. How can he determine such a thing?" Indira asked.
She said if she did not resign as a legislator, it would only make her resignation request appear to be lip service.
Roy, however, contended that Indira was nominated by PDI Perjuangan to be a legislator, therefore the party's executive board had the right to reject her resignation.
Roy acknowledged that he had received a letter from Indira in which she stated that she would quit the faction in protest after the party decided not to support the establishment of a special House inquiry on the Rp 40 billion (US$4.4 million) scandal involving House speaker Akbar Tandjung.
But, according to Roy, the reason mentioned in the letter was not strong enough.
"We do not accept her request, but the final decision is still (Indira's)," Roy conceded.
PDI Perjuangan's rejection is seen as a desperate attempt to keep the biggest faction in the House intact, after several others have expressed disappointment with many recent party decisions.
Indira sent copies of the letter to chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri and the faction on July 1 immediately after the party failed to back the Akbar inquiry.
Indira confirmed last night that she had not received a formal reply from either.
"I hope the (PDI Perjuangan) faction will soon contact me, whatever its decision," Indira told The Jakarta Post by phone.
Indira was one of only five legislators from PDI Perjuangan that voted for the establishment of the inquiry commission.
Most of the faction members abstained while three of them voted against the proposal.
Her resignation from the faction was the third this year after Sophan Sophiaan and Dimyati Hartono had earlier done so. They have since formed a new party.
The resignation of the three legislators from the PDI Perjuangan faction was fueled by their disappointment over the party's stance, mainly its opposition to the proposal to form the inquiry committee.
Fellow legislator Meilono Suwondo who also voted for the establishment of the inquiry committee is one of perhaps dozens of PDI Perjuangan legislators who are increasingly frustrated by the party's recent positions.
PDI Perjuangan, once regarded as the party of the reform movement, has become the target of public criticism for its strangely inconsistent policies, most notably its rejection of the House inquiry and its support of Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso for his reelection.
Megawati, perhaps stung by the criticism coming from her own party faithful, has said that her support of Sutiyoso was only "personal support". However, reports made it quite clear that Megawati had given an order for all PDI Perjuangan councillors to back Sutiyoso or face punishment.