Scholar urges PDI to field new condidate in East Java
Scholar urges PDI to field new condidate in East Java
YOGYAKARTA (JP): Political scientist Riswandha Imawan
underlined the need for a "third party" to resolve the crisis at
the East Java chapter of the Indonesia Democratic Party (PDI) and
avoid government intervention.
"It would be good if a caretaker leadership was formed to
resolve the impasse," said the staff lecturer at Yogyakarta's
Gadjah Mada University.
Speaking to The Jakarta Post on Saturday, Riswandha suggested
that PDI chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri accept a compromise
in her choice of nomination to the party's disputed East Java
leadership.
"This would be a temporary solution to avoid intervention by
East Java Governor Basofi Soedirman, including the possibility
that the government freeze all PDI activities in East Java," he
said.
The PDI leadership in East Java has been split into two camps
for the past year. One camp is lead by Soetjipto, who was
appointed by the central executive board in Jakarta. The other is
lead by Latief Pudjosakti, a former chapter chairman and an
opponent of Megawati's national chairmanship.
The East Java administration, under Governor Basofi Soedirman,
has recognized neither Soetjipto nor Latief. Given the
administration's position, police said they would not permit any
of the contesting leaders to hold any activity bearing the
party's name until the leadership conflict is resolved.
This has meant preventing Megawati from going to Surabaya to
install Soetjipto as the chairman of the East Java chapter.
Riswandha suggested the possibility of assigning a new
temporary leader in East Java to resolve the on-going split which
has threatened to undermine PDI's effectiveness with the general
elections just one year away.
He said the new candidate should be someone from the central
board who does not have a strong base of supporters in East Java,
or even an East Javanese who now resides in Jakarta.
Nevertheless, he acknowledged that selecting a candidate would
be no easy task. "Especially since alliances within the party
change so quickly. It's pretty hard to read the political map
with all these sudden changes," he remarked.
Another alternative would be the establishment of a collective
leadership which pools elements from both sides.
Riswandha believes that such a leadership remains a viable
option as long as it does not create a new alliance and function
as a separate political actor.
According to Riswandha, the crisis in East Java is not
altogether unexpected since the province offers the highest
number of seats in the legislature.
East Java has the highest number of regencies with 37,
followed by Central Java with 35 and West Java with 26.
Separately, legislator M. Hatta from the Armed Forces faction
echoed President Soeharto's recent call for compromise and a
amiable solution to the rift.
"If the chairperson of the central executive board of PDI can
carry out the president's call, then this would be a very
sympathetic gesture. On the other hand, if PDI doesn't heed the
call it would be extremely regrettable," he told the Post.
(har/mds)