PDI told to hold congress again to settle dispute

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)