PDI Perjuangan gears up for the special session

JAKARTA (JP): The three-day national working meeting of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) has been focusing its discussions on consolidating the party's cohesiveness in facing next month's special session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), a senior party executive disclosed on Friday.

Sophan Sophiaan, the chairman of the party's faction in the Assembly, said the party was debating its strategy for ensuring its chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri would replace incumbent President Abdurrahman Wahid if the special session resolves to reject his statement of accountability.

During the closed-door sessions, several of the party's regional representatives have expressed their support for an impeachment process against Abdurrahman and his replacement by Megawati, said Sophan.

The meeting also discussed all the possibilities that could occur during the special session and how to deal with worst-case political scenarios.

"The recommendations of the working meetings will be reflected in our common stance and in the PDI Perjuangan faction's reaction to the President's accountability statement," Sophan asserted at the Aryaduta Hotel in Central Jakarta, where the meeting is being held.

Sophan, however, admitted that there were still opposing views about the future of the President with some arguing that maintaining the current national leadership was still the most feasible alternative for the party and the nation.

He did not comment on reportedly sharpening divisions between newcomers to the party and the party old guard who had struggled for the party during the repressive regime of former president Soeharto.

Sophan, who is a well-known film director and actor, played down these divisions.

"There are differences of views, but I think they are not too fundamental. And now, after receiving explanations from the party's national executive board and the factions, we have reached a solid convergence," Sophan remarked.

Meanwhile, party treasurer Noviantika Nasution also disclosed that apart from the special session issue, the party was also discussing the policies to be adopted by a new government under Megawati so as to overcome the crisis in the economy and the current security and political difficulties.

"After the special session, we must anticipate the country's situation," Noviantika noted.

Sophan concurred saying that "it is very difficult for Mega to the lead the recovery process. So let us carry out the recovery program together without thinking that the program is only for our party".

Megawati opened the meeting on Thursday, asserting that the special session was the only choice for the country in attempting to end the prolonged national leadership crisis.

Political scientist Cornelis Lay, who is also an aid to the Vice President, led the discussion on how to anticipate the changes in social, political and security affairs after the Assembly's special session.

PDI Perjuangan Secretary-General Soetjipto is scheduled to close the meeting on Saturday. Megawati is not expected to attend the closing ceremony. (dja/prb)