PDI-P divided over Sutiyoso's nomination

PDI-P divided over Sutiyoso's nomination

Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Councillors from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan) were still divided on Wednesday about the endorsement
by party chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri of Jakarta Governor
Sutiyoso for the gubernatorial election.

Councillor Ugiek Soegihardjo rejected Sutiyoso's nomination,
saying that the governor has failed to eradicate corruption and
collusion during his tenure.

His rejection was also based on the fact that Sutiyoso was not
included in the 11 names nominated by the party's six branches in
the city during a meeting to discuss the gubernatorial candidacy.
The party's city chapter later proposed its chairman Tarmidi
Suhardjo as the party's sole candidate. However, Megawati
suggested the councillors nominate Tarmidi as a deputy governor
and give their vote to Sutiyoso as the next governor.

Ugiek told The Jakarta Post that many of the party's 30
councillors disagreed with Sutiyoso's nomination and would
express their objection to the party's central board.

Ugiek, who is a member of the council's special commission
investigating alleged corruption in PT Jakarta International
Trade Fair (JITF), believed that many party members would be
capable of leading the city as a governor is assisted by a team
of experts.

"So there is no reason to appoint Sutiyoso," he said.

Separately, councillor Tarmidi Edy Suwarno also said that
Megawati's statement had no authority unless it was in writing.

"The party's central board should issue a written statement if
it supports Sutiyoso," said Tarmidi, who is also chairman of the
party's North Jakarta branch.

The gubernatorial election, scheduled to take place on Sept.
17, would be determined by the council 85 councillors. As the
largest party in the council, PDI Perjuangan would play an
important role if their votes are not divided.

Megawati's support for Sutiyoso is controversial especially as
he is believed to have been involved in the bloody attack on the
party's headquarters on July 27, 1996, when he was still the
Jakarta military commander.

On Tuesday, more than 100 party supporters calling themselves
the July 27 tragedy victims staged a rally at the City Council,
protesting Megawati's support for Sutiyoso.

At least five people were killed and dozens went missing after
the attack on the headquarters on Jl. Diponegoro, Central
Jakarta, which was followed by mass riots in the area.

Political expert Hermawan Sulistyo of the National Institute
of Sciences (LIPI) believes that Megawati gave her support for
Sutiyoso as she expects his help to face the general election in
2004.

He also accused Megawati of acting like a dictator by
rejecting the aspirations of her party members in the nomination
of the gubernatorial candidate.

The party is called the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle, but what Megawati did was undemocratic, he said.