Soerjadi ready to settle PDI conflict in East Java: Governor
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)