JP/8/PITA

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.