PDI told to hold congress again to settle dispute

JAKARTA (JP): The controversy over the government backing of a rebel leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) has barely receded but the government suggested yesterday the party solve its burning leadership rift with another congress.

The suggestion for the PDI to hold an extraordinary congress was made by Secretary-general of the Ministry of Home Affairs Suryatna Soebrata.

Suryatna said PDI statutes stipulate that an extraordinary congress can be called to resolve an internal dispute if a majority of party leaders want it.

"So if a majority of party leaders want to solve the rift through a congress, why not?" he said.

Suryatna's call came amid speculations that the government has begun to distance itself from Soerjadi, who it endorsed to snatch the party chair from democratically elected Megawati Soekarnoputri in the June rebel congress.

Megawati, the eldest daughter of the late president Soekarno, was elected chairperson in 1993. She has rejected Soerjadi's leadership and claims she is still the legitimate party boss.

Soerjadi is understood to have hit a wall in his efforts to consolidate party leadership in the provinces because popular support for Megawati remains strong.

During recent visits to provinces in Java, he was embarrassed by popular rejection.

A series of demonstrations were held in several towns by PDI activists when he visited Jepara, Grobogan, Wonogiri and Surakarta in Central Java. Soerjadi believes they were Megawati loyalists.

He reportedly failed to meet supporters in Surabaya because rejection by demonstrators was just too strong to brave.

Suryatna denied speculations that the government has turned a blind eye to the troubles facing Soerjadi.

"It is not true. The government is really concerned with the latest developments in PDI. We expect the PDI will still be able to take part in next year's general election," he said.

Suryatna said he believed that Soerjadi's efforts to consolidate party leadership have not failed as some people believe.

"It is natural that consolidation will meet problems. Remember, the PDI is a fusion of several political parties," he said, adding that problems have also been encountered by Golkar and the United Development Party (PPP).

The PDI is a 1973 merger of nationalist and Christian political parties -- the Indonesian Nationalist Party (PNI), the Murba Party, the Independence Vanguard Party (IPKI), the Indonesian Catholic Party and the Christian Party.

Soerjadi said he would not mind if a majority of PDI members want to hold an extraordinary congress to resolve the never- ending leadership rift.

He said party members could call an extraordinary congress in the near future or wait for the upcoming mandatory congress scheduled for 1998.

Soerjadi criticized rallies organized by his opponents to show their rejection of his leadership.

"If PDI members are patient enough, they can wait until my term is over in 1998. Otherwise, they should hold an extraordinary congress," he said.

Soerjadi claimed that there has been no request for a party congress or an extraordinary congress so far. (imn)