Megawati urged to fire Sutjipto for defamation

Kurniawan Hari and A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Haryanto Taslam, a senior member of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), demanded on Monday that the party's executive board dismiss its secretary-general, Sutjipto, for defamation.

The demand came just one day after another senior party member, Dimyati Hartono, tendered his resignation from the party and the House of Representatives on Sunday.

Haryanto said that the removal of Sutjipto was imperative since he used its position to persuade Megawati, in her capacity as party chairwoman, to dismiss M. Basuki, chairman of the party's Surabaya branch, without clear reasons.

Megawati issued a decree on the dismissal of Basuki.

"We demand that the party annul the decree since the secretary-general has used manipulation, dishonesty and defamation in Basuki's case," Haryanto told reporters in his office here.

According to Haryanto, the dismissal was baseless since Basuki was not proven guilty of anything. The decree also did not indicate that Basuki had violated party rules.

It is therefore feared that the baseless act of Sutjipto could endanger the existence and survival of the party, Haryanto said.

"Sutjipto should not use the weaknesses of the chairwoman. He also should not use his closeness with Mega to seek benefit for his own interests," he said.

Haryanto demanded that Megawati implement the party's highest sanction by dismissing Sutjipto on Thursday at the latest.

"Should the party not heed our demand, we will file a civil lawsuit concerning the matter," he said.

Haryanto said Monday's demand was the third made to the party. The first was made on Dec. 31 and the second on Feb. 5.

Meanwhile, former chairman of the party's House faction Dimyati Hartono said on Monday that he would soon tender his resignation to the party's executive board.

"I will submit my resignation to Megawati in the near future," he said as quoted by Antara news agency.

In his resignation, Dimyati will ask the party to find someone else to take his place in the House.

Dimyati is a legislator and member of House Commission II on domestic affairs and a member of the Broadcasting Special Commission.