PDI Perjuangan supports Mega for better or worse

A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Leaders of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) across the country have thrown their support behind chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri, including her controversial decisions in the elections of regional government heads.

A release issued at the end of the party's two-day meeting said that her decisions put the nation's interests above party interests, namely national security and sustainability of regional development.

"The national meeting supported the decisions," said the release signed by Gunawan Wirosarojo, who chaired the meeting.

The national meeting was attended by leaders of the 30 PDI Perjuangan chapters across the country, as well as its legislators and party leaders.

PDI Perjuangan has come under public scrutiny following decisions by its central executive board to ignore people's aspiration in a number of gubernatorial elections.

Taufik Kiemas, Megawati's husband and an influential party figure, said earlier that the controversial decisions were made because PDI Perjuangan lacked potential leaders deemed capable of leading the people in the regions.

The lack of capable candidates has prompted decision-makers in PDI Perjuangan to choose military and civilian outsiders deemed fit to be governors and deputy governors in the regions, instead of party cadres, said Taufik.

He further said that the governors the party had chosen to support had proven to be capable of maintaining security in their respective areas and enhancing people's welfare, and thus deserved a second term.

Taufik was referring to several controversial decisions, including those in Jakarta, Bali and Central Java, in which the central board had not sided with the interests of respective chapters and the grassroots in gubernatorial elections.

In Jakarta, PDI Perjuangan defended Lt. Gen. (ret) Sutiyoso's run for a second term, instead of backing its own cadre; and in Central Java, PDI Perjuangan favored incumbent governor Mardiyanto, a high-ranking military official, to retain his post for a second term, instead of Mardijo, a loyal party cadre.

The defeat of Mardijo caused a heated protest in the Central Java capital of Semarang, in which party supporters vented their anger on the party's flags and banners bearing PDI Perjuangan chairwoman Megawati's picture.

The two-day national meeting was arranged following these incidents, which many believed would tarnish the party's image ahead of the 2004 general elections.