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)