PDI set to endorse new constitution

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) is scheduled to open a two-day national conference in Puncak, 70 kilometers south of here, today to finalize its new constitution and party programs

PDI chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri will open the conference, which will be attended by both central and regional party executives.

The documents should have been adopted in the party's special congress in Surabaya in December but that gathering was thrown in disarray after delegates failed to elect a new chairman and the government intervened.

The delay in the adoption of the documents has stirred criticism from some party officials.

Chairman of the Jakarta PDI chapter Alex Asmasoebrata, for example, says the legality of the whole decisions taken in the congress is questionable because not all relevant party officials have signed the documents.

Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie. S.M. and Armed Forces Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung are scheduled to address the gathering.

Meanwhile, the Antara press agency reported yesterday that the election of the new chairman of East Java PDI chapter has been marred with the usual antagonism.

The East Java PDI is to replace Latief Pudjosakti, a controversial figure who was blamed for the failure of the December congress after his organizing committee absented themselves and sought government intervention.

One of the candidates, Soetjipto, said the local executive board had received numerous hate letters which discredited him.

"There is no way I would respond to the letters," he said.

Soetjipto said he had the support of the majority of PDI branches in East Java which will vote on the chairmanship later this month. (pan)