PDI Perjuangan opposes move to challenge Gus Dur

JAKARTA (JP): While some of its members are collaborating to challenge the presidency of Abdurrahman Wahid, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), as an institution, opposes such a synergy.

"PDI Perjuangan will not support the antigovernment demonstrations or the memorandum being prepared by a number of House of Representatives (DPR)/People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) legislators to impeach the President.

"PDI Perjuangan has no authentic evidence that Gus Dur has breached the Constitution or the State Policy Guidelines (GBHN)," Sutjipto, PDI Perjuangan's secretary-general, said at the closing ceremony of the party's national congress here on Saturday.

He said the party's political stance was in line with Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri's recent statement that she was unwilling to replace the President through unconstitutional means because it would be a bad precedence.

Thousands of youths have staged antigovernment demonstrations at the House compound, demanding that the president step down for allegedly violating the 1945 Constitution and the GBHN. Some 100 legislators, including 20 PDI Perjuangan faction members, have also been gathering support for a memorandum calling for the impeachment of the President.

Pramono Anung Wibowo, the party's deputy secretary-general, said PDI Perjuangan and its faction at the House would take strict measures if it was proven that the President was involved in the Rp 35 billion (US$3.7 million) State Logistics Agency (Bulog) scandal and the confusion surrounding a US$2 million donation from the sultan of Brunei. Both cases are being investigated by the House's special committee.

"PDI Perjuangan supports an objective investigation by the House to seek the truth to both scandals," he said.

Pramono, also member of House Commission IX for state budget and banking, said all PDI Perjuangan legislators at the House were obliged to comply with the party's decision not to act but they could not be barred from using their right to express their individual opinion of the government.

He said PDI Perjuangan saw the government as a partner while observing Megawati's position as vice president, but it would remain critical of the government and propose necessary corrections to improve its performance.

Asked about the party's response to the government's three alternatives to solve problems in restive Aceh, Pramono said PDI Perjuangan would ask the government to delay declaring a state of emergency in Aceh because it would likely raise new problems in the province.

"PDI Perjuangan is against the government's plan to declare a state of emergency in the restive province in the immediate future because it would certainly cause the loss of more innocent lives," he said.

He said the national congress reiterated the party's stance that the government should give priority to a cultural and persuasive approach in seeking a comprehensive and peaceful solution to Aceh's problems, which are complicated in nature.

"The problems in Aceh is not only about the separatist movement, but also human rights abuses and injustices," Pramono said, adding that the declaration of a state of emergency in the province would be counterproductive as a majority of the people were observing the fasting month of Ramadhan.

He said the PDI Perjuangan faction opposed the move by House Commission I for defense and security and Commission II for legal affairs to support the government's plan to impose a state of emergency in Aceh.

Asked about internal matters in the party, PDI Perjuangan deputy chairman Roy BB Janis, who accompanied Sutjipto and Pramono in a media conference following the closing ceremony of the congress, said the party would set up an honor council to investigate indisciplinary actions committed by party members, especially in provincial and regency legislatures.

"We must admit that a number of PDI Perjuangan legislators in provincial and regency legislative councils have been involved in money politics. All these cases will be investigated by the honor council. The maximum penalty will be dismissal from the party," he said.

He said the honor council would work until Jan. 10, 2001, when the names of those involved in money politics would be announced to the public. (rms/02)