Regent fired as PDI Perjuanganteam leader

Regent fired as PDI Perjuanganteam leader

Agus Maryono, The Jakarta Post, Cilacap, Central Java

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) has
dismissed Cilacap Regent Probo Yulastoro as the party's local
election victory team leader because of a scandal over civil
servants and students being required to purchase T-shirts and
books with the party's symbol.

Fran Lukman, who chairs the Cilacap regency branch of
President Megawati Soekarnoputri's PDI Perjuangan and the local
legislative council, said on Wednesday the decision was taken to
counter public allegations the regent misused his power for the
benefit of the party.

The decision comes amid increased anger over the order that
civil servants, including teachers, buy T-shirts bearing a photo
of Lukman and PDI Perjuangan's symbol.

People also are angry with the local party for telling
elementary and junior high school students to buy exercise books
bearing pictures of Probo, Lukman, Megawati and her father,
founding president Sukarno.

The two orders were reportedly approved by the Cilacap
Education and Culture Office. The T-shirts were sold for Rp
12,500 (US$1.47) each, while the exercise books cost Rp 5,000 for
a pack of four.

It is thought that the orders, which have angered parents,
school principals, civil servants and residents, are related to
next year's elections.

Both Lukman and Probo, a senior figure in the PDI Perjuangan,
are trying to distance themselves from the controversy.

Lukman has denied knowing that the T-shirts and books were
sold through bureaucratic channels, despite the fact that the
chairman of the Sukarno Center Foundation, Rujimanto, who is
responsible for the two items, is an PDI Perjuangan executive in
the regency.

The center's office is also located in the same building as
the headquarters of the PDI Perjuangan's local branch.

In response to the public uproar, Regent Probo issued an order
to all heads of local government agencies to prohibit civil
servants and teachers from wearing T-shirts bearing the symbol of
any political party.

He also banned all civil servants from taking part in election
campaigns.

However, after Probo ordered local officials to remain
politically impartial, he was removed by Lukman as chairman of
PDI Perjuangan's local election victory team for the 2004
elections.

Lukman appointed himself to take over the team, with Rujimanto
as his secretary.

Lukman said he hoped that Probo would be better able to focus
on his duties as regent now that he no longer chaired the
election team, adding that Probo should be careful not to wear a
PDI Perjuangan T-shirt when attending party meetings. "This is in
compliance with his own order for civil servants."

The controversy over the T-shirts and books has prompted the
Cilacap Election Supervisory Committee to summon local PDI
Perjuangan leaders for questioning.

Party leaders could be barred from campaigning if found guilty
of violating election laws in the T-shirt and book matter, the
committee said.

After summoning the PDI Perjuangan leaders, members of the
election committee have reportedly received threatening phone
calls from anonymous callers.

The committee's deputy chairman, Fatihun, said an unidentified
caller told him to drop the matter or he would be killed.