PDI Perjuangan meets to maintain party unity

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) Chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri assembled party legislators here on Wednesday and instructed them to maintain unity amid speculation of a growing internal rift.

In the closed-door meeting at a hotel in South Jakarta with all PDI Perjuangan Faction members of the People's Consultative Assembly, Megawati emphasized the need to preserve a common vision while stating that differences must be resolved internally.

But the meeting itself, including comments from senior PDI Perjuangan executives, clearly signals that dissension is growing in the ranks, not against Megawati's leadership but against certain segments within the faction.

Megawati herself refused to answer questions from reporters, however several of her legislators were more forthcoming.

"Ibu really stressed that everybody be unified. Though some of us are sterner and more hardened while others are more moderate, we just have to unite," faction chairman at the House of Representatives Arifin Panigoro said after the meeting.

"Ibu was being realistic, critical and arguing that differences of opinion should be resolved internally... We should not publicly interrupt each other," Arifin added.

The latest embarrassing revelation came during a plenary House session on Monday to debate the formation of a commission to investigate the Bulog and Brunei scandals allegedly involving the President.

As Arifin was speaking in support of a probe, another PDI Perjuangan legislator, Dudi Makmun Murot, interrupted proceedings to say that Arifin's statement did not represent the faction as it has yet to be internally discussed.

Before Wednesday's meeting, some party members told The Jakarta Post that several legislators were dissatisfied with Arifin as many of his "moves" were too harsh toward President Abdurrahman Wahid, while Megawati herself had always maintained "patience" with the President.

But Arifin, when asked, brushed off remarks that he could be replaced while arguing that he never did anything without the knowledge of the party and Megawati.

"Ibu reminded us all that the faction's actions should be done with her knowledge and should be transparent. Every action of the faction is under the control of the party so if there is some disagreement it's because they're uninformed," Arifin said.

PDI Perjuangan's Faction chairman at the Assembly, Sophan Sophiaan, played down Wednesday's meeting saying that Megawati only asked members to remain unified as there will be many issues and tasks ahead.

Although most PDI Perjuangan members denied there is growing discord in the party, several comments were glaringly telling.

Arifin had earlier told journalists that one or two people within the PDI Perjuangan had a personal interest in stopping the probe on money scandals allegedly involving Abdurrahman.

"There are one or two people, who have special personal interests in us not battling corruption," Arifin remarked.

Nevertheless when journalists tried to confirm this with Sophan, he struck back at the allegations.

"I stress that there is no one inside the party unwilling to eliminate all kinds of corruption. No one!" Sophan charged. (dja)