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.