PDI'boycot threat brushed aside

JAKARTA (JP): Governor of the National Defense Institute (Lemhanas) Lt. Gen. Moetojib has brushed aside a threat by the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) to boycott the 1997 election in protest against the government's meddling in its internal problems.

"I would say that the threat was a mere emotional statement," Moetojib said when addressing a workshop of the Moslem educational organization, Muhammadiyah, in the East Java town of Malang yesterday.

He added that the minority party's maneuver would not undermine the nation's resilience in the run-up to the 1997 general elections.

The threat was made last week by senior legislators from PDI, Yahya Nasution and Aberson Marle Sihaloho, who were angered by what many party officials see as government intervention in its internal affairs.

They were upset at the government's refusal to recognize Sucipto as the legitimate chief of PDI's East Java chapter on the grounds that the post was also claimed by Latief Pudjosakti.

The government's stand keeps the leadership conflict within the nationalist-Christian alliance glowing.

At first, the local government favored Latief, an ardent critic of PDI chairperson Megawati Sukarnoputri -- the one who appointed Sucipto after a congress failed to elect a new chapter chief several months ago. But when the crisis worsened, the government announced that it supports neither Sucipto nor Latief.

The PDI central executive board is split into two camps in handling the crisis, with one spearheaded by Gerry Mbatemooy supporting Latief and the other backing Sucipto.

Last week, Megawati fired Gerry for inaugurating Latief. She also sacked Latief for disciplinary reasons.

Moetojib said that PDI officials should think about possible consequences before making statements, Antara reported. (pan)