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

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.