PDI Perjuangan pledges expulsion of guilty members

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.