No deal with PDI Perjuangan, says military/police faction

No deal with PDI Perjuangan, says military/police faction

JAKARTA (JP): The military/police faction on the City Council
denied on Wednesday that it hatched a deal with the Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) to ensure the
victory of its candidate in Monday's vote for council speaker.

Faction chairman Col. Dudi Sugiandi insisted that no pledge
was made to PDI Perjuangan for the exchange of its one city
representative in the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) for 20
votes from the party's councilors for the faction's candidate,
Maj. Gen. Edy Waluyo.

"There is no deal between our faction and PDI Perjuangan.
Personally and institutionally, we did not lobby them," Dudi
said.

He said the successful nomination of Edy during the council's
plenary session was mainly due to the fact that the majority of
the 84 city councilors believed he was the most suitable
candidate.

The two-star military general, who was also the speaker on the
previous council, gained 40 votes, half of which were from PDI
Perjuangan councilors.

The latter party, which holds 30 seats, only obtained nine
votes for its candidate.

Widespread suspicion and skepticism greeted the councilors
breaking party ranks in the vote. Politicians, analysts and
supporters of PDI Perjuangan have expressed disbelief.

Dudi lauded it as an example of democracy at work.

"Thanks to all the councilors who voted for Edy Waluyo in a
democratic way," he said.

Megawati

PDI Perjuangan's faction chairman Tarmidi Suhardjo, who was
also his party's choice for council speaker, said the decision to
back Edy was the "policy" of the party's chairwoman Megawati
Soekarnoputri.

He said he personally did not agree with the choice.

Tarmidi reiterated on Wednesday that support for Edy was from
Megawati.

"I met Ibu Mega today," he said, using the nickname for the
eldest daughter of the country's founding president Sukarno.

"During the meeting, she once again told me about it (her
decision). I was even recommended to reduce my consumption of
meat to curb my temper," Tarmidi said.

He said on Tuesday that the decision was part of his party's
strategy to obtain another seat in the MPR, which is slated to
hold its General Session in November to elect the president.

The move was also intended to halt the rise of candidate
Djafar Badjeber from the "axis force".

Dudi said his faction was still to decide on its candidate to
represent the city.

But he added that the faction would not choose anyone who
supported Megawati Soekarnoputri for the presidency.

Sources said the faction would nominate former city governor
Surjadi Soedirdja to represent the city in the MPR.

Dudi refused to comment directly on the possibility of
Surjadi's nomination.

However, he did outline the criteria for the most suitable
candidate.

"The important thing is the person should be a public figure
who has good knowledge and understanding about the city."

Based on the vote count and composition of the council, PDI
Perjuangan's faction is projected to receive two of the five MPR
seats for Jakarta.

The military faction, the United Development Party (PPP) and
the National Mandate Party (PAN) are each expected to hold one
seat each.

The five representatives will be chosen in the council's
plenary session which is scheduled on Wednesday.

About 100 supporters of PDI Perjuangan staged a rally at the
City Council on Wednesday, demanding all 30 of the party's
councilors be recalled.

Unfurling posters and banners, the protesters, who claimed to
be victims of the bloody takeover of PDI headquarters on July 27,
1996, condemned their representatives on the council for voting
for the military. They said it was the military which
orchestrated the attack on the building on Jl. Diponegoro.

"Do you forget that dozens of the party's supporters died and
many more are still missing after the attack," Marihot, one of
the protesters, cried during a meeting with the party's
councilors at the City Council.

The protesters also denounced the party's nomination of
Tarmidi for the post when its councilors were intent on voting
for a candidate from another faction.

"If it's really Megawati's policy, tell her that we are
ashamed and disappointed," another protester, Bambang Soekarno
Sakti, said. (jun)