PDI-P members plot to unseat Megawati

PDI-P members plot to unseat Megawati

JAKARTA (JP): Despite mounting political support for the
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan)
chairperson, Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri, to lead the
country, there have been signs of an effort to unseat her from
the party's top post, PDI Perjuangan secretary general Soetjipto
said on Sunday.

Speaking to journalists on Sunday in Surabaya, Soetjipto
admitted that there were illicit efforts made by the party's
cadres to hold a special congress against Megawati.

Soetjipto, as reported by satunet.com, said that the effort
was provoked by several cadres at party branches, but assured
that the move would not gain support from party members or
regional representatives across the country.

He said that the party's central executive board had ignored
the maneuver.

Megawati was ousted as the Indonesian Democratic Party's (PDI)
chairperson in 1996, when the New Order government-sponsored
special congress in Medan, North Sumatra, removed her and
nominated Surjadi as the party's leader.

At the time Megawati was considered the greatest threat to
Soeharto's presidency.

The move which finished her was an attack on the party's
headquarters on Jl. Diponegoro, Jakarta, on July 27, 1996.

Megawati regained her supporters after Soeharto's resignation
in 1998. She changed the name of the party to PDI-Perjuangan and
won the election in 1999.

Echoing Soetjipto, PDI-Perjuangan faction secretary at the
House of Representatives (DPR) Heri Akhmadi told The Jakarta Post
here on Sunday that the effort to oust Megawati was nothing
serious.

"Yes, we've heard about that. One or two branches are trying
to move against her, but I don't think that move is significant.
According to the party's regulations, a special congress is legal
if it gains support from 75 percent of the party's branches,"
Heri said.

"What I know is that until today (Sunday) the party's central
executive board has yet to receive any formal proposal to hold
such a congress," he added.

Heri added that the move might have diminished following the
party's decision to dismiss several members last year for their
alleged involvement in corruption or money politics over several
areas.

When asked whether the effort to oust Megawati was supported
by certain groups outside the party, Heri said: "Maybe, but as
you can see, many of our own members, including members of our
faction at the House, sometimes feel disappointed. So it is not
surprising that they could be provoked by other groups (outside
the party)." (dja)