Megawati tries to mend fences as PDI-P internal conflicts deepen

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Megawati Soekarnoputri is now trying to reconcile with her party's veteran members who had been sidelined as she is apparently coming to grips with her imminent ouster by the people.

Megawati, who had sought a full five-year mandate in the runoff, has opted to stay at her private residence in Kebagusan, South Jakarta in the past few days, holding meetings with party members who have been marginalized in the past few years.

Some old party members who met Megawati in the past few days were former party leader Haryanto Taslam, former party secretary general Alexander Litay and party executive Kwik Kian Gie.

"Ibu is listening to complaints and differing opinions from the party's estranged members. She is drawing up plans to consolidate the party and heal rifts," Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) deputy secretary general Agnita Singadikane said on Friday.

Megawati, who was supported by most of the leaders from PDI-P, Golkar, the United Development Party (PPP) and the Prosperous Peace Party (PDS) in the Sept. 20 election, has only garnered 39 percent of 108.8 million ballots counted as of Friday, compared to opponent Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's 61 percent.

Over 153 million people were registered for the election, but only 120-125 million people were believed to have voted.

Agnita said old and new party leaders are expected to attend the meeting scheduled for Tuesday.

Finger-pointing had escalated in the party since it failed to win the April 5 legislative election, with several of the sidelined party members accusing newer members of merely telling party leader Megawati what she wanted to hear and not offering real solutions.

Veteran party members such as Kwik, Taslam and Litay were effectively sidelined by the like of Pramono Anung and Tjahyo Kumolo during the campaign.

During the presidential election campaign, Megawati set up the so-called Mega Center to coordinate all campaign activities. Most people employed there were non-party members and some party leaders who were relatively new in the party.

Kwik, who is also state minister for National Development Planning (Bappenas), held a press conference on Friday, demanding Megawati to dismiss Pramono, Secretary-General Soetjipto and deputy chairman Gunawan Wirosaroyo.

He emphasized that these people, including Cornelys Lay and Sony Keraf, were responsible for Megawati's defeat in the election runoff against Susilo.

At least 26 PDI-P members signed a no-confidence motion against party leaders Sutjipto, Pramono and Gunawan on Friday.

They urged the "gang of three" to immediately resign from their posts the party.

Budiningsih, one of the signatories, accused the three of trying to marginalize members who had been struggling for the party for a long time.

Among the signatories were Abdul Madjid, Amin Aryoso, Bambang Pranoto, Kwik Kian Gie, Subagio Anam, Engelina Pattiasina, Willem Tutuarima, Ismangoen Notosaputro and Audi Tambunan.

Agnita, however, said after a meeting with Megawati that there was no plan to dismiss anybody from the party, saying that both factions had their own positive sides that could strengthen the party in the future.

"The newer people have strong planning skills, while some of the veteran members have wide support among the constituents. It will make for good party chemistry in the party if we can unite them," Agnita said.