Tarmidi joins Pioneer Party

JAKARTA: Tarmidi Suhardjo, former chairman of the Jakarta chapter of the ruling party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), has officially thrown in his lot with the Pioneer Party (Partai Pelopor).

The party, established earlier this year, is led by Rachmawati Soekarnoputri, a daughter of former president Sukarno and younger sister of President Megawati Soekarnoputri, the chairwoman of the PDI Perjuangan.

Just a week after joining the Pioneer Party, Tarmidi was appointed as chairman of the party's Jakarta chapter in a ceremony on Friday that was attended by 1,000 party supporters.

He was kicked out of the PDI Perjuangan last year after disobeying an order from Megawati not to continue in the race for the Jakarta governorship.

Instead of supporting Tarmidi, Megawati threw her weight behind the incumbent governor, Sutiyoso, the former Jakarta military commander. -- JP