Soerjadi ready to settle PDI conflict in East Java: Governor

SURABAYA (JP): The new executive board of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) is ready to negotiate and settle the leadership conflict in the party's East Java provincial chapter.

East Java Governor Basofi Soedirman told the press here yesterday that new chairman Soerjadi has displayed his readiness to tackle the question of rival leadership when he attended a board meeting in Bogor, West Java, on Monday.

"The board is ready to sit down and discuss with all the branches the question of who's to lead the provincial chapter," Soerjadi was quoted by Basofi as saying.

The governor added that the meeting will take place on Friday at Surabaya Airport Hotel in Sidoarjo. A number of technicalities such as gathering permits have been sorted out. "Let's hope the negotiation will finish, once and for all, this protracted conflict," Basofi said.

The East Java chapter -- which currently has two leaders, Soetjipto and Latief Pudjosakti -- had been told to solve its conflict by Sept. 6. The regional electoral board is scheduled to meet on Sept. 10 to receive lists of legislature candidates from the three political groupings contesting the general election next year.

Basofi said that during his meeting with Soerjadi last week, the latter expressed willingness to receive Basofi's advice on how to settle the conflict.

Basofi said he would limit his role in the proceedings. "It's up to the meeting tomorrow to decide whom to elect as chapter chairman," Basofi said.

The leadership conflict in PDI's East Java chapter has been dragging for two years. Soetjipto is backed by the deposed PDI chief, Megawati Soekarnoputri, but East Java Governor Basofi Soedirman reportedly never wanted him at the helm. Up to now, Soetjipto has refused to recognize Soerjadi and has called his board unconstitutional.

Soetjipto's rival is Latief Pudjosakti, a self-styled leader who, it is reported, has been enjoying the support of Basofi. The new party chairman, Soerjadi, however, reportedly cannot stand Latief who helped topple him in the 1993 congress which elected Megawati. Soerjadi has denounced Latief as "politically defective."

There have been attempts to settle the conflict by pushing a third figure, Dimmy Haryanto, appointed by Soerjadi as caretaker of the party chapter.

Yesterday, Basofi refused to comment on the current situation. "I'm not going to meddle in their affairs, as long as what they're doing is constitutional," he said.

When asked about what he would do should Latief not get elected, Basofi said: "Again, it's up to them. What's important is that the executive board talks with the branches."

Several names are being circulated for the chairmanship, including Dimmy, Djoko Hadi Soemirmo, and Trimono Wahyu Soetomo.

Meanwhile, yesterday in Semarang, Central Java, a court continued to hear the lawsuit filed by a group of Megawati- loyalists against Soerjadi's supporters .

Willem M. Tutuarima has sued Danang Soewito and Soemario for attending the Medan congress held in June which elected Soerjadi to replace Megawati, without the approval of all functionaries of the party's Central Java chapter.

Willem, through his lawyer Hadi Sasono, said the congress was organized by a group of dissidents -- led by deputy chair Fatimah Achmad -- who were already dismissed by Megawati. (15/har/swe)