Tarmidi joins Pioneer Party

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