Stop Merukh, activists demand

PALANGKARAYA, Central Kalimantan: Officials of the local branch office of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) urged the local government yesterday to ban rival party chief Yusuf Merukh.

Local party officials said that Merukh should not be allowed to establish a rival board in the province as he has done in several other places.

Chief of the PDI branch office, Metropole B Djanguk, said that the lack of government action against Merukh indicates approval of the establishment of a fourth political party.

Merukh is the arch rival of legitimate PDI chief Megawati Soekarnoputri. She was elected by popular vote in 1993. Merukh rejects her leadership and has established a rival board.

Metropole said that rival activists' loyalty to the party is highly questionable. He added that he has sent letters to the local police chief and local administration to ban Merukh from visiting the province.

"They are frustrated simply because they have no seat in the legitimate executive board," he said as quoted by Antara. (pan)