JP/8/PITA

Former PDI Perjuangan leading light establishes own party

The Jakarta Post Jakarta

Weeks after his resignation from President Megawati Soekarnoputeri's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), former legislator Dimyati Hartono established his own political party on Sunday.

The new party is to be called the Indonesian Motherland Party (PITA).

Hundreds of party members and supporters attended the founding ceremony at the Jakarta Hilton Convention Center (JHCC) in South Jakarta.

"The Party is open to all people without discrimination as regards their ethnicity, religion, or class. We are founding this party to save the country from disintegration as many of today's officeholders lack a sense of crisis," said PITA Chairman Dimyati, a former member of the House of Representatives' Commission II on Legal and Home Affairs.

The party was officially founded by 60 people on Feb. 5, 2002, when it was registered with the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights. The founders included secretary-general Granat W. Partosudirjo and treasurer Edwin Sebayang.

PITA aims to recruit young people as part of its effort "to get away from the decay of the old regime," Dimyati said.

He had tried to seek the support of President Megawati's sister Rachmawati Soekarnoputeri, considered a potential vote- getter in the next general election.

Dimyati resigned from both the House and the PDI Perjuangan in February due to worsening rifts and internal rivalry among party leaders.

Days before his resignation, another PDI Perjuangan politician Sophan Sophiaan quit from the People's Consultative Assembly and the House but maintained his membership of the PDI Perjuangan.

PITA is the third political party launched in 2002. PPP Reformasi, a splinter group from the Muslim-based United Development Party (PPP), was launched in January by noted Muslim preacher Zainuddin M.Z., and the Indonesian Islamic Party (PII) in March.

Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and economist Sjahrir of the New Indonesia Alliance (PIB) are reportedly planning to set up political parties to contest the 2004 presidential election.