PDI Perjuangan opposes move to challenge Gus Dur

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)