Problem PDI-P legislators replaced

JAKARTA (JP): The General Elections Commission (KPU) revoked on Monday the membership of six Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) legislators and appointed six replacements from the same party.

KPU chief spokesman Djoeharmansyah told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday that the memberships were revoked because their appointments violated a commission regulation and had sparked protests from the regencies which the legislators represented.

"The election commission has sent to President B.J. Habibie a letter asking the president to review his decision on their appointment and to issue a new presidential decision on the appointment of their successors," Djoeharmansyah said, adding that he hoped a decision would be made before Wednesday's presidential election.

The six House members whose membership was revoked were: Edrwin Pardede from Simalungun, North Sumatra; Matheos Formes from Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara; Jacob Nuwa Wea from Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara; Engelina Pattiasina from Minahasa, North Sulawesi; Zulkifar Thaib Ali from East Aceh, Aceh and Pataniari Siahaan from Pekanbaru in Riau.

The six replacements selected by the commission were Kurpan Sinaga, Stanislaus Say, Cyprianus Aoer, Dicky Adolf Pua, Zulkifli Kidam and Doli Syarief Pulungan.

Djoeharmansyah said the problem was that the initial six members did not win seats in their respective regencies, but were appointed by the party's central board.

"The second six have a right to sit in the legislature because they won in their regencies," he said.

Jacob Nuwa Wea however said that PDI Perjuangan had satisfactorily explained the matter to the KPU.

"The PDI Perjuangan leadership has sent a letter to the election commission to inform it of its policy concerning the six legislators. And I think the problem is over," he said.

Jacob said he and his five colleagues were entitled to seats because they were appointed from leftover votes won by the party in the election. (rms)