Reformists challenge Mega's leadership

Reformists challenge Mega's leadership

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Several weeks before the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
(PDI-P) convenes a national congress in March, disgruntled party
members are beginning to flex their muscles to block the
reelection of PDI-P leader Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Calling themselves the "PDI-P Reform Movement", the
politicians, led by businessman-cum-politician Arifin Panigoro,
have proposed radical changes in the party's organizational
structure.

"We need to bring reform to the PDI-P, otherwise the party
will collapse in the next five years. The most important thing is
that we have to control the party leader," the secretary of the
movement, Didi Supriyanto, told The Jakarta Post here on Sunday.

He said his group would introduce its anti-Megawati political
movement during a discussion at the Syahid Jaya Hotel in Jakarta
on Monday.

Besides making changes to the organizational structure, Didi
said the PDI-P needed to find the right person to replace
Megawati, a former president.

The movement emerged after Megawati lost the presidential
election in September to former security chief Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono. Under her leadership, the PDI-P received the second
most number of votes in the legislative election.

Megawati was elected to lead the party in 1993 when it was
still known as the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI). Following
intervention by the Soeharto government that led to an internal
rift, she changed the party's name to PDI-P. She was elected to a
second term as the party's leader in 1998.

At the party's extraordinary congress in 2000, Megawati
maintained her hold over the party and was again elected its
leader.

The PDI-P Reform Movement has named several possible
replacements for Megawati, including her younger brother Guruh
Soekarnoputra, Kwik Kian Gie, Laksamana Sukardi, Roy BB Janis,
Sophan Sophiaan and Arifin.

The group does not want to kick Megawati completely out of the
country's second largest party, proposing her as a possible
member of the PDI-P Steering Council -- a new body designed to
supervise the work of the party's executives.

The Arifin-led "PDI-P Reform Movement" resembles a recent
attempt by Kwik Kian Gie, a former national development planning
minister, to introduce change to the party.

Called the "Movement to Purify the PDI-P", Kwik's effort was
driven by his anger over what he saw as high-ranking party
officials taking advantage of their ties to Megawati for their
personal benefit.

Kwik has frequently blamed these officials for Megawati's
defeat in the presidential election and for the party's failure
to win the legislative election.

Didi acknowledged similarities between his group and Kwik's
movement.

However, Meilono Suwondo, who has been campaigning for reform
in the PDI-P for the past three years, was not optimistic the new
movement could bring substantial change to the party.

"This idea for reform within the PDI-P has been initiated only
two or three months before the congress. I doubt it will bear
fruit," said Meilono, who added that he was invited to attend
Monday's discussion.

Responding to the movement, PDI-P deputy secretary general
Pramono Anung Wibowo said it was normal for a party to have
internal factions.

"It is part of the political dynamism inside a party. The PDI-
P cannot be led solely by one group," Pramono told the Post.

Speaking at an anniversary event for the party last week,
Megawati urged her supporters to beware of money politics ahead
of the congress, which will be held in Bali.