PDI branches turn to Basofi for help

JAKARTA (JP): Thirty one of the 37 branches of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) in East Java have asked the province's governor, Basofi Soedirman, to step in if PDI headquarters in Jakarta can't resolve the leadership conflict in the region.

Leaders of the 31 PDI branches have written to Governor Basofi, with copies going to party headquarters and a number of government and military agencies, stating their position.

The East Java chapter of the PDI has been rocked by division between those supporting the leadership of Megawati Soekarnoputri and those who oppose her. The conflict began at a PDI congress in East Java to elect its regional leaders in January. It ended in a deadlock when Megawati annulled the election and appointed her own man to lead the chapter.

Megawati's camp has already accused Basofi of intervening in the party's internal affairs by supporting and legitimizing her opponents in East Java.

Seven leaders, claiming to represent the 31 branches, met with Basofi yesterday to ask him to intervene if the party leaders in Jakarta couldn't resolve the problem by the end of the month, Antara reported.

The 31 branch leaders demanded that Megawati rescind her letter appointing Soetjipto as the chairman of the party's chapter in East Java and endorse the election of Latief Pudjosakti.

Latief is known to be a staunch critic of Megawati.

"If by the end of September the Central Executive Board cannot resolve the problem, we are turning over the matter to the Governor of East Java in his capacity as the chief political supervisor of the province," the letter stated.

Sanny Setiadi, chairman of Tulungagung branch and one of the seven who attended yesterday's meeting, said that with general elections less than two years away, time is fast running out for the chapter to resolve its internal conflict.

"How can we ensure a successful election in 1997 if the problem is not settled?" he asked.

Basofi said he planned to write to the PDI headquarters as soon as possible to appeal to them to work towards a consensus. "Everyone involved must not stick firmly to their position and demands for the sake of (the party's) unity."

Asked by reporters whether this amounted to intervention, he said "Of course, but that's because we were asked to. If we didn't intervene, what else is there left? Without a meeting, this problem won't be resolved. Whatever happens, there must be a meeting between the conflicting parties to work towards a consensus."

Sanny said government intervention was "not necessarily" a bad thing although it might leave the impression that PDI is not independent. (emb)