PDI-P fires dissidents, internal rift worsens

PDI-P fires dissidents, internal rift worsens

Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Conflict within the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-
P) reached its climax on Tuesday as the party's central board
dismissed 12 members of a splinter group which has been fighting
for internal reform.

As a consequence of their expulsion from the party, some of
them who are serving as House of Representatives members will
face imminent ouster from the legislative body in accordance with
the law on composition of legislative bodies.

Refusing to accept their dismissal, they said the central
board under the leadership of Megawati Soekarnoputri had no
authority to take such harsh action, saying the legitimacy of the
central board was being contested in court.

PDI-P deputy chairman Jacob Nuwa Wea said the move was decided
in Tuesday's weekly executive meeting, which was presided over by
Megawati. The board said the 12 members were proven guilty of
failing to accept the results of the party's second congress in
Bali early in April, which reelected Megawati as party leader for
2005-2010 period.

"They have committed a serious violation for rejecting the
results of the second congress in Bali," he said.

The figures given the axe were Arifin Panigoro, Laksamana
Sukardi, Sophan Sophiaan, Roy B.B. Janis, Didi Supriyanto,
Postdam Hutasoit, Tjiandra Wijaya, Pieters Sutanto, Pius
Lustrilanang, Angelina Pattiasina, Imam Mundjiat and Sukowaluyo
Mintohardjo.

"The decision is final and the executive board will take
account of it in the next congress," Nuwa Wea said.

PDI-P secretary-general Pramono Anung Wibowo said other
members of the splinter group would be persuaded to accept the
congress' results, including Megawati's reelection as party
leader.

In response to the dismissal, Sukowaluyo said he and his
colleagues would ignore the decision until the South Jakarta
District Court delivered a verdict on their lawsuit.

"Megawati and the executive board have no authority to make
such a decision because the court is still hearing our case,"
Sukowaluyo said.

A number of party chapters and reform-minded figures are
fighting in court the legitimacy of the party's second congress
that granted Megawati with prerogatives they said were against
the party's standing orders.

Arifin and many other senior members of the party started a
reform movement aimed at replacing Megawati who they said was
responsible for the party's defeat in the 2004 legislative and
presidential elections.

The reform movement has won support from respected figures
such as Abdul Madjid and Mochtar Buhori.

Sukowaluyo said PDI-P lawmakers who are part of the reform
group would seek mediation through the President and the Supreme
Court if they were recalled from the legislative body.

"We will fight it out and let party members and supporters
decide their legitimate leaders," Sukowaluyo said.

Arifin and Laksamana, who have financially supported the
reform movement, have said they are seeking support from party
chapters and branches for a planned extraordinary congress to
oust Megawati and set up an alternative party.

Roy said many party's provincial chapters and regional
branches had joined the reform movement which was aimed at
restoring the party's image ahead of the 2009 general election.