Megawati told to withdraw party nomination
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) Deputy Chairman Dimyati Hartono hinted that Vice President Megawati Sukarnoputri should withdraw her nomination as party chair for the good of the party.
Speaking in Semarang, Central Java, on Monday, Dimyati said the party should be consistent in its policy of not allowing a centralization of party power.
"In the past we slammed Soeharto, who was not only president but also Golkar's patron. Now, Ibu Mega is going to do the same. We must be consistent," he said.
Megawati last week announced her readiness to be reelected by the party congress planned for March in Semarang.
Dimyati warned that a power centralization could reemerge emulating the mistakes of former president Soeharto's regime.
"Such a thing should not happen to PDI-P," he added.
He contended that as a democrat Megawati should take into account her current position as vice president, already burdened with great responsibility and heavy tasks.
"The (Megawati) statement should not have been uttered to the public," said Dimyati who himself has been touted in some circles as leading candidate to takeover from Megawati.
Dimyati asserted that the party should not depend too much on one person but on the established system and the potential of its cadre.
"If asked about her readiness Ibu Mega could publicly say 'yes' but ideally she should say, 'I will take it into consideration," he said as quoted by Antara from the Central Java provincial capital.
Unrest
In a related development, the PDI Perjuangan faction at the House of Representatives condemned the recent wave of unrest in several provinces and called on security forces to take stern measures.
The faction also deplored the abortive bombing of the grand mosque in Yogyakarta and the pelting of numerous churches there on Sunday.
"For these incidents, our faction urges security authorities to carry out a thorough investigation and arrest persons involved in the actions. Such incidents could occur in other areas if strong measures are not taken," I Made Urip, the faction's chairman, said in a statement here on Monday.
He said the incidents had similarities to conflicts in other provinces, with the same purpose of creating disturbance at home.
"Our faction calls on security authorities not to be influenced by certain sides trying to break up national unity," he said.
The faction also called on the people to remain alert against rumors and provocation aimed at creating chaos, saying certain interest groups have intentionally incited numerous violent incidents in the provinces with the capital city of Jakarta as their final target.(rms)