PDI Perjuangan to keep posts vacant

BENGKULU, Bengkulu: The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) has no plans to fill the vacant posts in its central board until after the legislative round of elections in April next year, an executive said.

PDI Perjuangan deputy chairman Mangara Siahaan said on Friday that he feared the recruitment of new board members would hamper the party's preparations for the election.

"There had been a plan to fill the vacant spots in our latest leadership meeting, but after studying it we thought it was not a crucial issue," Mangara said.

The party's current central board comprises 13 executives, including chairwoman Megawati, one Cabinet minister and two ailing party members. They oversee 30 provincial chapters and 308 regency/municipal branches across the country.

Mangara said some of the executives had died, abandoned the party or were inactive.

"We admit we are facing a real human resources vacuum. It will not be solved by appointing new executives from the chapters and branches," Mangara said.

The party has set a target of at least equaling its performance in the 1999 election, when it won 34 percent of the vote. -- Antara