PDI-P condemned as New Order clone

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