Provincial council speaker to be fired

BANDARLAMPUNG, Lampung: Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri has approved a move to dismiss party member Srie Atidah, the speaker of the provincial legislature here.

In her decree dated Nov. 24, Megawati also ordered the suspension of Srie as chairwoman of the party's branch in the capital city of Lampung and named Ridwan Sangkut, M. Effendi, Suparmin and Tarmuji as caretakers, whose main duty is to prepare an election for the new chief which is expected to take place after Idul Fitri.

The Muslim holiday falls on Dec. 27.

Srie has been in the hot seat after provincial councillors lodged a vote of nonconfidence against her, citing her lack of leadership.

A disgruntled Srie expressed regret over Megawati's decision. "As a party which upholds justice and democracy, PDI Perjuangan should have asked for my explanation instead of just listening to a unilateral report from the party's other branch officials," she said. (amd)