Stop Merukh, activists demand

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)