PDI wants clean team of legislators

PDI wants clean team of legislators

JAKARTA (JP): The government-recognized faction of the
Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) wants its future legislators to
be clean and hard-working.

Campaigner Dimmy Haryanto told a PDI rally in Banda Aceh,
Aceh, yesterday that "PDI legislators should not be affected by
the five D's disease."

He was referring to an Indonesian acronym for Datang, Duduk,
Diam, Dengar, Duit. Translated, this means "appear, sit, be
quiet, just listen and take money" -- an insult to House of
Representatives' members who fail in their duties but enjoy the
financial rewards of legislators.

"If there are PDI cadres who want to become such legislators,
they should withdraw now," he told thousands of cheering
supporters.

The PDI concluded its campaign yesterday in the provinces of
Sumatra, East Timor, Bali, East and West Nusa Tenggara, amid
growing controversy over the ousted PDI chief Megawati
Soekarnoputri's announcement that she would abstain from voting.

In Medan, North Sumatra, the party's government-backed
chairman, Soerjadi, told supporters and cadres to ignore
Megawati's statement.

"She had initially instructed her followers not to take part
in the campaign, but they did it anyway," Soerjadi was quoted by
Antara as saying.

Soerjadi said PDI supporters did not follow orders arbitrarily
because they followed party rules and regulations, and would not
be swayed by a prominent figure's statement.

In Yogyakarta, Megawati supporters celebrated the end of
campaigning by releasing three balloons with a white banner
emblazoned with "Viva Mega" in red letters.

Joko, a Megawati supporter, told The Jakarta Post that the
stunt was meant to show their loyalty for Megawati, who maintains
she is the party's lawful leader.

"We continue to support Mega because she is PDI's true leader.
We will not compromise our right to vote unless her status as
party leader is restored and recognized," Joko said.

The balloon, launched by "Loyal Megawati Supporters,"
attracted great public attention.

Mega-bintang

Megawati loyalists also attended the last campaign round of
the United Development Party (PPP) there, with Mega-bintang
banners flying high. Mega is a nickname for Megawati, while
bintang (star) is the PPP's symbol.

Yogyakarta Legal Aid (LBH) spokesman Budi Hartono said his
office had sent a letter to President Soeharto saying that
Megawati's declaration was a tacit call on her supporters to
abstain from voting.

Had she explicitly called for an election boycott, Megawati
could be violating the electoral law by persuading other people
not to vote.

In Bengkulu, Sumatra, PDI deputy chairman Ismunandar lamented
Megawati's decision for compromising her responsibilities as a
citizen.

Ismunandar said her decision to become a non-voter was unwise.
"As a good Indonesian citizen with commitment to the people,
national unity and the success of the elections, I believe, right
or wrong, that this is my country."

He stressed that the election aimed to build long-term
national development, and abstaining from voting would not
benefit the country. (23/01/swe)