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.