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)