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.