Megawati announces new PDI Perjuangan lineup

SEMARANG (JP): Megawati Soekarnoputri, coming off her reelection as chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), announced the lineup of the party's executive board.

Megawati, who is the country's vice president, was also quick to warn party supporters they could not rely on her forever.

"All party members must be ready to take over from me. Be an excellent cadre. Who knows, one of you could be nominated to become party chief," she said.

The party's executive board includes five new faces and accommodates different religious groups and regions. The new deputy chairmen are Karel Lukkas Degey from Irian Jaya, Imam Mundjiat from East Kalimantan, Gunawan Wirosaroyo from Central Java and Roy B.B. Janis and Arifin Panigoro, both from Jakarta.

The remaining three deputy chairmen posts went to Kwik Kian Gie, I Gusti Ngurah Sare and Theo Syafei, all of whom were on the old executive board.

Sutjipto was appointed party secretary-general, which is seen by many as the second-most strategic and important position in the party. The deputies to the secretary-general are Mangara Siahaan, a former party deputy chairman; Pramono Anung from Jakarta; Yakobus K.M. Padang, the secretary of the South Sulawesi provincial chapter of PDI Perjuangan; and Agnita Singadikane, the secretary of the party's Jambi provincial chapter.

Noviantika Nasution, the party's former deputy treasurer, replaces Laksamana Sukardi as treasurer. She will be assisted by Johannes Lukman from West Sumatra and Sri Oetari Ratna Dewi from Jakarta.

Megawati formed the executive board after winning unanimous support for her reelection as chairwoman earlier in the day. The congress previously agreed to allow a system which gave the chairperson-elect the power to name the party's executive board.

Following her reelection, Megawati attempted to quell the controversy surrounding this system.

"I hope my reelection does not pose a threat to the process of democratization," she said.

She conceded it was difficult for her to select the party executives because of the need to maintain objectivity, and the fact that she could not accommodate all of the aspirations of the congress.

"Of utmost importance is that all of the new members of the executive board are expected to work consistently and diligently.

"Differences of opinion about the system should teach us a lesson about how to encourage democracy," she said.

Both Sutjipto and Roy hailed the new lineup of the executive board, saying it represented different regions, including the volatile province of Irian Jaya, and the five political groups that founded the party in 1973.

But many party members questioned the lineup and expressed doubt that the new executives would be able to cooperate with one another in tackling the challenges of the future.

Former deputy chairman Mochtar Buchori said some of the executive members were uneducated cadres and others were Megawati loyalists who lacked the skill to run the party.

"Kwik is the only educated professional on the executive board. I am sad the management of the party was entrusted to such uneducated and unprofessional cadres," he said.

Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno, another former deputy chairman, concurred, saying the selection of the new executive board was not based on rational and objective considerations.

"I'm pessimistic about whether they can carry out their jobs," he said.

Haryanto Taslam, a former deputy secretary-general of the party, said that with the new unprofessional executives, the party faced a gloomy future.

Party member and outspoken House of Representatives legislator Aberson Marle Sihaloho criticized Megawati for her failure to find positions for such capable party members as Dimyati Hartono and Eros Djarot.

"I just hope Megawati will be able to work with the unskilled cadres to make PDI Perjuangan a modern party in the future," he said.

In her capacity as the country's vice president, Megawati closed the six-day congress on Saturday. However, party members will have little time to rest as they begin preparing for regional party congresses.

Line-up of PDI perjuangan executive board:

Chairwoman: Megawati Soekarnoputri

Deputy chairmen: Theo Syafei, Karel Lukas Degey, Kwik Kian Gie, I Gusti Sara, Imam Mundjiat, Roy B. B. Janis, Arifin Panigoro, Gunawan Wirosaroyo

Secretary-general: Sutjipto

Deputies to Secretary-general: Mangara Siahaan, Pramono Anung, Yakobus K.M., Anita Singadikane

Treasurer: Noviantika Nasution

Deputy Treasurers: Johannes Lukman, Sri Oetari Ratna Dewi. (rms/swa/har)