Rebel PDI activists told to set up own political party

Rebel PDI activists told to set up own political party

JAKARTA (JP): A leading member of the Indonesian Democratic
Party (PDI) yesterday said that party members who are discontent
with the leadership of Megawati Soekarnoputri should form their
own party instead of trying to undermine the party.

Aberson Marle Sihaloho, a PDI legislator and a staunch
supporter of Megawati, said he was concerned with the brewing
internal conflict within the party as many rebel members in the
regions have formed rival executive boards.

Megawati has been touring the various provincial capitals in
the past month to supervise the election of regional boards, some
of which ended in controversy when rebel members decided to form
their own boards.

"I recommend that those unsatisfied with the election
mechanism form a new party and see if it can accommodate their
wishes," he said. "Although I would remain loyal to PDI, I would
fully support the creation of a new political party."

The Indonesian law only recognizes three political
organizations which are allowed to contest the five-yearly
general elections. PDI, a fusion of Christian and nationalist
forces, is the smallest party compared to the other two: Golkar
and the United Development Party (PPP).

Megawati's presence in the PDI regional elections has been
attacked by some rebel party members as an attempt to meddle into
the affairs of the regional boards.

Angered by Megawati's "excessive" intervention in the election
of their leaders, PDI members in Aceh, North Sumatra and South
Sulawesi have formed rival local board of executives.

"I believe that those who set up rival executive boards do not
have political commitment to PDI as they pledge," said Aberson,
one of PDI's most outspoken legislators.

Aberson said what in the surface seemed to be bitter conflicts
was in fact the dynamic within PDI which is practicing democracy.
"Decision making is left to members instead of being dominated by
the leaders," he said.

Illegal act

Megawati, who was elected by popular vote last year, has
personally deplored the formation of rival executive boards in
the three provinces, saying that the development was worrying and
could tarnish PDI's image.

She said that establishing a rival board was an illegal act by
party members who look after their personal ambition instead of
developing the party.

The latest dissensions within PDI have come to the attention
of the ministry of home affairs, which controls the development
of political organizations.

The ministry has apparently written to Megawati regarding the
latest development in her party, but some party leaders construed
this as another government attempt to meddle in the PDI's
affairs.

Director general socio-political affairs of the ministry
Sutoyo NK denied the suggestion that the government had
reprimanded the PDI's central executive board.

Sutoyo said he had simply written to the PDI leadership urging
them to resolve the problem after a number of PDI members in the
provinces pressed him to do so.

He argued that the formation of rival executive board was a
serious matter that the government and PDI should address soon.
(pan)