PDI Perjuangan party faces deepening conflict
M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Hundreds of Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) supporters in Semarang, Central Java burned on Thursday the picture of party chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri following the defeat of Mardijo, a candidate backed by the party's provincial chapter.
The protesters vented their anger for what they called betrayal of by the party's central board, which decided to throw its weight behind incumbent Mardiyanto and order all provincial legislators to vote for him at Mardijo's expense. Mardiyanto, a former military commander overseeing the province, was nominated by the National Awakening Party (PKB).
Mardijo was given the axe by Megawati as chairman of the party's provincial chapter for "insubordination" on Monday, but will fight the decision in court.
Mardiyanto won in a landslide to retain his post for another five-year term on Thursday with 62 of 99 votes. Former Jakarta military commander Slamet Kirbiantoro came second with 22 votes, with Mardijo 13.
Analysts say what transpired in the Central Java gubernatorial election reflects internal rifts within PDI Perjuangan that may hamper its performance in 2004 general elections, as it may lose support from many disillusioned rank-and-file members.
This is not the first time PDI Perjuangan alienated its own in a gubernatorial election. In September last year, despite the strong resistance from the public, including PDI Perjuangan supporters, Megawati helped Sutiyoso, another military commander, win his reelection as Jakarta governor.
In Lampung, after Megawati's handpicked candidate Oemarsono lost to Azriel Dianis Thabranie, the party chairwoman exercised her power as the President to defer the inauguration of the governor-elect despite obvious and overwhelming popular support. Instead, Azriel was then put in custody for a graft case.
An analyst from the state-run University of Indonesia Arbi Sanit said PDI Perjuangan had jeopardized its long-term interests by adopting authoritarian measures to endorse gubernatorial candidates although it went against the will of party supporters on the grassroots level, the voters.
"It seems that the priority for the party now is to maintain governors in almost all of the party's strongholds, so that it will safeguard the party's interests in the 2004 general elections," Arbi told The Jakarta Post.
When asked if the party's move could do harm for the future of the party, he said: "Now it will not happen, those who challenge Megawati in the gubernatorial elections in fact do not have strong grassroots support. Besides, most of the party's supporters are still blinded by the 'Mega charisma' she inherited from her father, the late president Sukarno."
Another political observer Bactiar Effendi said what seemed to be a resistance from some of the party's provincial chapters was still within the grasp of the party's central board.
However, he believed that conflict within the party was deepening as there were too many people involved in the maneuver to help a gubernatorial candidate win.
"What is at stake is the party's future, because I see that rifts are worsening," he said.
PDI Perjuangan won 34 percent of the vote to finish first in the 1999 general election, the first held since the fall of the New Order authoritarian regime. With disappointment over Megawati's performance as the president and party chairwomen, the party's chance of maintaining that number of votes next year is at risk.