PDI Perjuangan party faces deepening conflict

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.