PDI Perjuangan meets to maintain party unity

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)