PDI Perjuangan strives to save unity

PDI Perjuangan strives to save unity

Suherdjoko, The Jakarta Post, Semarang

With the general election drawing near, the cracks within the
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) are
spreading following the dismissal of the party's Central Java
chief Mardijo.

Mardijo, who is the speaker of the provincial legislature, was
removed from the local chapter's helm for contesting the
gubernatorial election without the consent of party chairwoman
Megawati Soekarnoputri. Also dismissed was his secretary Wuwuh
Beno Nugroho.

Disciplinary action taken by Megawati had previously cost
party councillors in Jakarta, Surabaya and Lampung their places
in the party for defying her orders.

Mardijo now joins Tarmidi Suharjo in Jakarta and 13
councillors in Lampung as PDI Perjuangan politicians who have
received their marching orders for insubordination in connection
with gubernatorial elections in their respective provinces.

The next such move may be in Bali as PDI Perjuangan
councillors in the province have defied Megawati's order to
support the reelection of Governor Dewa Beratha.

The incidents of insubordination have been taking place in
provinces known as PDI Perjuangan strongholds, putting the party
on notice that it might need to work extra hard to maintain unity
among its supporters and, on top of that, retain at least the 34
percent of the vote it won in the 1999 general election in next
year's polls.

Megawati, who is also the President, has always recommended
the renomination of the incumbents when it comes to gubernatorial
elections for reasons that she has never publicly disclosed. But
Imam Utomo reportedly promised to help the PDI Perjuangan in
exchange for the party's full support for his reelection as East
Java governor last week.

While other dissidents remained silent following their
dismissals by the party, Mardijo announced on Tuesday he would
challenge Megawati's decision in court.

"The decision to fire me and my secretary is obviously in
violation of the party statutes," Mardijo told a media conference
in Semarang.

He has named lawyers from the Indonesian Defenders of
Democracy Team (TPDI) to represent him in the legal fight in the
Administrative Court in Jakarta. The TPDI comprises lawyers who
represented the PDI Perjuangan in seeking justice during the time
of the New Order regime.

"I was not elected by the party central board, so they cannot
just dismiss me without holding a regional conference, which is
the proper mechanism," Mardijo said.

Megawati has named party deputy chairman Gunawan Wirosarojo
and deputy secretary-general Pramono Anung Wibowo to replace
Mardijo and Wuwuh respectively.

Mardijo downplayed his dismissal as the number one in the
party's provincial chapter as he braces himself for the
gubernatorial election on Thursday.

"I'm committed to upholding democracy. In the event of a war,
if the general refuses to make peace, it will be the corporal who
goes into the battlefield," he said cryptically.

Mardijo has been nominated by the PDI Perjuangan faction and
picked Hisyam Ali of the United Development Party (PPP) as his
running mate, although Hisyam is also teamed up with the PPP's
gubernatorial candidate, Slamet Kirbiantoro.

Although supported by Megawati, incumbent governor Mardiyanto
has been officially nominated by the National Awakening Party
(PKB) along with Ali Mufis as his running mate. The National
Mandate Party has nominated Hadi Pranoto and Djoko Wahyudi.

With 44 seats on the legislature, the PDI Perjuangan vote
seems set to divide following Mardijo's dismissal, with 25 votes
likely going to Mardiyanto, who will also enjoy the support of
all 16 PKB councillors to secure his reelection.

Over 3,000 military and police personnel will be deployed to
maintain order during the election on Thursday, with all 100
councillors being checked into the luxury Patra Jasa Hotel from
Tuesday until the day of the vote, ostensibly for security
reasons.