PDI-P condemned as New Order clone

JAKARTA: Pioneer Party (PP) chairwoman Rachmawati Soekarnoputri says that the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan)'s central board's strategy of ignoring its own members when choosing who to support in gubernatorial elections resembled the approach of the former regime of president Soeharto.

She lambasted the decision of the PDI Perjuangan's central board to nominate candidates with military backgrounds as part of its effort to safeguard the party's interests in the upcoming general election.

"This is the way Soeharto's New Order regime maintained its control over the people," he told reporters here.

Rachmawati was commenting on a statement by an influential figure in the PDI Perjuangan, Taufik Kiemas, who said that the Indonesian military and police should be credited for their role in maintaining the territorial integrity of the country.

She said the PDI Perjuangan's preference in backing candidates with military backgrounds also indicated that the party lacked members with leadership qualities. -- Antara