PDI-P to fire convicted councillor

PURWOKERTO, Central Java: The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) will likely recall the speaker of the Banyumas legislative council, Tri Waluyo Basuki, from the regency legislature for disciplinary offenses.

He was sentenced to 2.5 years in jail for attempting to intervene in a court order relating to a plot of land in 2001.

Local election commission chairman Indra Purnomo said on Thursday that his office had received a copy of a letter from PDI Perjuangan regarding the party's plan to replace Tri.

"The letter says that it has been proposed that Tri Waluyo be recalled and replaced by another PDI Perjuangan cadre," Indra said.

Banyumas' PDI Perjuangan chairman Suherman confirmed the plan to dismiss Tri for breaching party rules.

Tri has asked President Megawati Soekarnoputri, who chairs PDI-P, for clemency over his conviction, which has been upheld by the Supreme Court. --JP