PDI Perjuangan pledges expulsion of guilty members
Annastashya Emmanuelle, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) has pledged to expel any members found using banned substances or engaging in immoral acts, as it seeks to take the moral lead in combating drug abuse in the country.
PDI Perjuangan treasurer Noviantika Nasution said the party's executive board has vowed to take strict action against any member who tests positive for banned substances, or engages in any activity that damages PDI Perjuangan's image. She was speaking following the party's weekly meeting here on Tuesday.
She said three party members who tested positive for illegal drugs faced expulsion from the party. She declined to identify the three.
According to Noviantika, the party's leadership has also instructed regional party executives to take action against members found to be using illegal drugs, which are prohibited by the party's internal rulings.
PDI Perjuangan has given urine tests to members in several regions, as part of the national movement to combat narcotics.
All party branches are required to submit the results of the urine tests to the central board by May 10, and expel any member who tests positive for banned substances, she said.
Commenting on the arrest of a member of the PDI Perjuangan Central Kalimantan chapter at a drug party, Noviantika said that member, whom she also refused to identify, would soon be expelled.
"The procedure (of the expulsion) will be handled by the chapter office in compliance with the guidelines of the party, which has already been informed (of the incident)," Noviantika said.
President Megawati Soekarnoputri, who is also the chairwoman of PDI Perjuangan, has repeatedly ordered that anyone found to be using drugs be kicked out of the party.
Two legislators of PDI Perjuangan's South Lampung chapter recently fell foul of the party's fight against immoral acts when they were caught having sex with two women, who were not their wives, in a hotel not far from where a Koran recital contest was underway.
And a member of the party's Jambi branch, identified only as KDRN, who is also the chief of the Sarolangun legislative council, was arrested by the Kerinci Police at a drug party in the village of Sungai Penuh.
The Jambi chapter has yet to expel KDRN, saying that they are awaiting a decision from the party's central board.
Suwarno, the head of the PDI Perjuangan chapter in Jambi, also said on Tuesday the chapter would soon give members surprise urine tests to weed out any drug users.
"Anyone testing positive for drugs will be expelled from the party," he said in Jambi as quoted by Antara.