PDI Perjuangan's Jakarta chapter executives elected

JAKARTA (JP): Tarmidi Suhardjo was elected as the new chairman of the Jakarta chapter of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) in an overnight election early Saturday morning.

Tarmidi, currently the chairman of the party's East Jakarta branch, secured 15 out of the 25 eligible votes during the party chapter's first regional congress held at the Horison Hotel in Ancol, North Jakarta.

He defeated his rival, Audi I.Z. Tambunan who is also chairman of the party's South Jakarta branch. Audi secured nine votes. There was one abstention in the vote which was held after midnight Friday.

Outgoing chairman Roy B.B. Janis, who attended the congress, warned all party members to remain alert for possible attempts to bring the party to ruin.

"The party's enemies used to be non-party members. But, now the enemies are also within the party so that all of us should remain alert," Roy told the congress after the inauguration of the new chairman.

Ten days prior to the congress, the party's central executive board issued a directive, prohibiting anyone directly or indirectly involved in the splinter Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) congress, which was held in 1996 in Medan, North Sumatra, from being nominated as a candidate for the post of chairperson.

The congress ousted then PDI leader Megawati Soekarnoputri and appointed Soerjadi as her replacement. Megawati is the country's incumbent Vice President.

The regional congress, which was also attended by Megawati, was marred by a noisy protest on Friday when Alex Asmasoebrata, head of PDI Perjuangan's Setiabudi chapter, and his supporters tried to force their way into the event without permission. However, the incident did not turn violent.

Alex's name had been dropped from the list of candidates for the party's 2000/2005 Jakarta chapter chairmanship because he was believed to have played a role in the 1996 congress.

The congress also named Sumiati Sukarno as deputy chairwoman , while Agung Imam Sumanto, Ajarta Sebayang, Ishak Iskandar, Pantas Nainggolan, Kuswadi S., Natal Sitinjak and R. Mudjito were appointed as assistant deputy chairmen.

Maringan Pangaribuan was elected as secretary, while Sayogo Hendro Subroto was appointed treasurer.

Megawati said during her opening speech earlier on Friday that she was disappointed with the Jakarta chapter executives for their sluggishness in organizing the much-awaited congress. The post of chairman of the Jakarta chapter has been vacant following Janis's election as the party's deputy chairman in its congress last March. (jaw)