Observers call for govt role in PDI reunification

Observers call for govt role in PDI reunification

SEMARANG (JP): Two leading observers called yesterday for
government arbitration if rival factions within the Indonesian
Democratic Party (PDI) agree to discuss much-awaited
reconciliation.

The rector of Diponegoro University, Muladi, suggested that
the government mediate because it is the patron of domestic
political affairs.

"The government is obligated to step in because conflict-
ridden PDI plays havoc to political stability nationwide.
However, it should refrain from meddling in the party's internal
affairs," Muladi said.

He said, as the patron of the country's political
organizations, the government could not play a hands-off approach
to any problems disrupting a political party.

The call for reconciliation in PDI grows as the minority party
licks its wounds after it suffered poor results in the May 29
general election. A few weeks ago, government-sanctioned PDI
under Soerjadi offered its rival faction, led by Megawati
Soekarnoputri, a dialog which may lead to reunification.

Soerjadi was reinstated as the party's leader in place of
Megawati in a government-backed breakaway congress in June last
year. Following the congress, the government declared it only
recognized PDI under Soerjadi.

Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M. dismissed over the
weekend the possibility of the government's participation in the
proposed dialog, apparently to avoid being viewed as recognizing
Megawati's faction.

A political observer from Diponegoro University, Soehardjo,
shared Muladi's view, saying the government should prove that the
political system it adopted could help PDI empower itself.

"The government has always claimed that the current political
system is the best. Therefore the system should bring about a
healthy PDI, as well as Golkar and the United Development Party,"
Soehardjo said.

Muladi said the dialog, if agreed upon, should occur after the
general session of the People's Consultative Assembly in March
next year.

Award

Meanwhile in Jakarta, a team of lawyers of the Megawati-led
PDI faction named yesterday former justice Adi Andojo Soetjipto
as the first recipient of the Sahardjo Award for his campaign for
clean law enforcement in the country.

The award is named after the late Dr. Sahardjo, a national
hero known for his campaign for the promotion of human rights in
the legal system.

Kastorius Sinaga, a member of a team of five that conducted
the selection, said Adi edged out 41 contenders who were made up
of legal activists, bureaucrats or former bureaucrats,
intellectuals and common people.

The selection committee short-listed the nominees to only six,
Kastorius said, and after a "long and intense debate" unanimously
voted for Adi.

Adi is scheduled to receive the award when the team of lawyers
celebrates their first anniversary on Aug. 26.

Kastorius, a postgraduate lecturer at the state-run University
of Indonesia, declined to identify the other five people joining
Adi in the final selection.

"This is not a competition. We think that revealing names will
adversely affect our campaign for just law enforcement,"
Kastorius said.

The selection committee appraised the nominees on their
persistent struggle for law enforcement, their devotion to public
welfare rather than personal or group interests and the effects
of their struggle.

Another selection committee member, Tumbu Saraswati, denied
that Adi's selection indicated that Indonesia fell short of
figureheads in law enforcement. "Adi is an outstanding character
who has been widely praised by the public," she said.

Adi, who retired last May, made headlines with his accusation
of widespread collusion within the Supreme Court and with his
ruling to exonerate labor leader Muchtar Pakpahan from subversion
charges. He also ruled in favor of the defendants in the murder
case of labor activist Marsinah. (har/amd)