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)