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Wed, 05 Sep 2001

JP/PDI Perjuangan calls for replacement of DPA members

PDI Perjuangan calls for replacement of DPA members

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) urged the government on Tuesday to replace the current Supreme Advisory Council (DPA) membership in line with changes in the national leadership.

"We need to have new DPA members as the current DPA council members were appointed during former president Soeharto's New Order government," said PDI Perjuangan deputy chairman Roy B.B. Janis.

Roy further said that as the current DPA membership was representative of political and social groupings during the Soeharto era, it was no longer appropriate for the current leadership.

"We have not discussed possible candidates in detail ... we simply would like to emphasize the urgency of selecting new members of the DPA," he said.

Roy made the remark in a press briefing, which was held after the party's weekly meeting led by its chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri.

The current members of the council were appointed after the election of former president Soeharto in 1997, in line with his presidential tenure.

In 1998, former president B.J. Habibie replaced senior Golkar member A.A. Baramuli in his capacity as chairman of the council with the current DPA chief Achmad Tirtosudiro. However other members of the council were not replaced and have continued to serve on the council until now.

During former president Abdurrahman Wahid's tenure, the DPA in its advisory role also urged Abdurrahman to resign from the presidency.

State Secretary/Cabinet Secretary Bambang Kesowo had announced earlier that the government intended to replace the DPA members as soon as possible.

Former Indonesian Democratic Party's (PDI) chairman Surjadi, who once supported the Soeharto government to block Megawati from leading the party, is also currently one of the DPA members.

"The current duo, Megawati and Vice President Hamzah Haz, needs new people to advise them," Roy remarked.

PDI Perjuangan also suggested that the government review the membership of the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK), which must also be selected by the incumbent President. (dja)