PDI-P puts spin on Indira resignation

JAKARTA: The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) accepted the resignation of its senior member Indira Damayanti Soegondo from the parliament and considered it "a good political education."

"This is part of a normal and positive political education, I think deserves to be appreciated," Pramono Anung Wibowo, Deputy Secretary General of PDI Perjuangan said here on Thursday.

Indira, a member of the House of Representatives and of the People's Consultative Assembly, stepped down in apparent disgust with the party's rejection of establishing a special committee to investigate the Rp 40 billion buloggate fiasco that allegedly implicates House Speaker Akbar Tandjung.

Pramono said that despite Indira's resignation from the legislature, she would continue to work for the party.

Many experts consider Indira's resignation another severe blow to the party after two other senior party figures --Dymiaty Hartono and Sophan Sophiaan also quit recently over controversial party stances.

Pramono denied that the party's controversial policy on the bulog scandal had increased the friction among PDI Perjuangan legislators in the House. --JP