Provincial council speaker to be fired

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)