PDI won't bow to govt pressure

SURABAYA: The Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) vowed yesterday it will not succumb to the East Java government's suggestion to dissolve the executive board of its local chapter and elect a new leader.

Chief of the East Java PDI chapter Sutjipto said that the party's leadership crisis was solved when Megawati Soekarnoputri, the chairperson of the PDI central executive board, appointed him last year.

He said the party can resolve its problems better if the East Java provincial government does not meddle, Antara reported.

Sutjipto was responding to a suggestion by Suryadi Setiawan, chief of the local government's sociopolitical affairs department. He asked for the local PDI executive board to be dissolved so the party can elect new executives.

The government does not recognize Sutjipto. PDI officials charge that the government wants to see Sutjipto's archrival Latief Pudjosakti on the helm. (pan)