Rebels seek PDI-P change of guard

I Wayan Juniartha, The Jakarta Post, Sanur

An internal rift in the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) became widened during the party's one-day national meeting here on Tuesday, with several senior executives campaigning for a leadership change.

Calls for reform within the party come as its leader, incumbent President Megawati Soekarnoputri, heads to a crushing defeat in the Sept. 20 presidential at the hands of her former chief security minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

PDI-P executive and businessman Arifin Panigoro was among those at the forefront in calling for a reshuffle of the party's leadership in a bid to modernize the country's second largest political party.

"We must abandon the old paradigm. PDI-P should transform itself into the kind of modern, nationalist party this country will need in the next 50 years, instead of becoming the party this country needed 100 years ago," he said,

Arifin said Megawati's record over the course of her three- year presidency played a crucial role in determining the outcome of the presidential election.

"The voters obviously examined Ibu Mega's deeds during her three years as President," he said on the sidelines of the meeting in Sanur, Bali

However, he refused to blame any specific executives for Megawati's imminent loss in the historic election.

Arifin also stopped short of saying that those wanting to reform the PDI-P should topple Megawati from her position as the party's leader.

"I did not say that. It (a change of leadership) should be decided by all of the elements of the party. However, I believe that we are moving in that direction.

"There must be change inside the party's structure. It's an ongoing process right now and we still don't know at this moment whether the change will be achieved through a special national congress or an expedited congress," Arifin said.

Held at the Grand Bali Beach Hotel, the one-day meeting was attended by leaders of the party's provincial chapters throughout Indonesia.

Megawati's husband Taufik Kiemas and brother Guruh Soekarnoputra, as well as most members of the party's central executive board, were among those in attendance.

Megawati officially opened the meeting by striking a gong after giving a brief speech.

Kwik Kian Gie, a senior PDI-P executive who has been highly critical of some Megawati loyalists for harming the party's image, was not seen at the meeting.

He has several times named PDI-P secretary-general Sutjipto, his deputy Pramono Anung and party executive Gunawan Wirosarojo as those most responsible for Megawati's defeat in the direct presidential election, and has said the three should be kicked out of the party.

Asked why Kwik was not in Sanur, Arifin said: "I think Kwik has already said more than enough in Jakarta."

Outside the hotel, dozens of PDI-P supporters staged a peaceful protest demanding the dismissal of party executives responsible for the party's failure to win the legislative and presidential elections. The protesters did not provide specific names.

When asked about Kwik's absence, Sutjipto said: "Why don't you ask Pak Kwik? Everybody was invited to this meeting."

Responding to Kwik's statement that the PDI-P must be cleansed of what he called "rotten" members, Sutjipto said the party did not have any mechanisms for such an action.

"If Pak Kwik keeps saying that, then there is the possibility that this national meeting will come up with a decision to discharge him from the party," he warned.

The gathering ended with nine recommendations, including a call for the PDI-P's central board not to tolerate any campaigns by party executives that were not in line with the party's prevailing regulations.