PDI Perjuangan's Jakarta chapter executives elected

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)