No-confidence motion urged against PDI-P's Arifin
No-confidence motion urged against PDI-P's Arifin
JAKARTA (JP): A member of the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction at the House of Representatives
has confirmed that around 50 faction members have signed a
petition demanding a no-confidence motion against their chairman
Arifin Panigoro.
"I don't know exactly the reasons but the no-confidence motion
has gained support from some 50 faction members," Jacob Tobing
told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.
He said the list of signatures supporting the motion was still
circulating among faction members and was expected to be handed
over to the party's executive board to decide whether it was
acceptable or not.
Reliable PDI Perjuangan faction sources said the motion was
initiated by senior figures in the party who were unhappy with
the role of newcomers.
"Numerous old party activists don't want newcomers, including
Arifin and Theo Syafei, to appear in the party's structure and
the faction's leadership. They also oppose radical faction
members who have outspokenly criticized President Abdurrahman
Wahid's leadership," said a source.
Arifin, chairman of the faction at the House and Theo, deputy
chairman of the House's Commission I for defense, foreign and
affairs, are also deputy chairmen of the party.
Theo, former chief of the Udayana Military Command overseeing
Bali, East and West Nusa Tenggara, joined PDI Perjuangan in 1998
only months after retiring from the Army.
Arifin, a former member of the People's Consultative Assembly
from the Golkar Party (1997-1999), joined PDI Perjuangan early in
1999.
On Wednesday, PDI Perjuangan chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri
assembled all party legislators and asked them to maintain unity
amid speculation of a growing internal rift in the party.
Another source said numerous party legislators were
disappointed with Arifin because of his personal qualities and
close links with Ginandjar Kartasasmita, a Golkar party figure
who played an important role in the former New Order regime.
"He (Arifin) is a single fighter and temperamental in leading
the faction. He and Ginandjar are also co-owners of the Medco
Group and their close links are feared to have influenced faction
policy," the source said. (rms)