Trouble brewing in PDI's chapter in Jakarta too
Trouble brewing in PDI's chapter in Jakarta too
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) chairperson
Megawati Soekarnoputri faced another potentially explosive
situation as the party's chapter in Jakarta opened its congress
last night.
The Jakarta chapter's incumbent chairperson MAS Alex
Asmasoebrata, who is also a Megawati protege, appears to have
lost grassroots support as not a single branch has come out in
support of his reelection on the eve of the congress.
Alex, himself a controversial figure in PDI, was not deterred
and insisted on running for a third five-year term in office even
though his chances of winning were minimal.
"Not only am I ready to be nominated, but I will also serve in
any lesser capacity for the sake of the party," he said.
He acknowledged that the party had been somewhat "pompous" in
the past but promised that he would make amends if he gets
reelected.
Last night he also pleaded with fellow PDI leaders to forge
unity in the chapter saying that this is the only way for the
party to grow.
The congress of the PDI Jakarta was opened last night by
Megawati, who in her keynote address reminded the delegates that
the Jakarta chapter hold a strategic position in the party's
strength.
Also present at the opening ceremony was Jakarta Governor
Surjadi Soedirja and M.H. Ritonga, the chairman of the Jakarta
City Council.
The congress is scheduled to wind up today with the election
of the new chairman and other appointment of the chapter's
executive board.
Dissension
Megawati was elected to the party's leadership by a popular
vote at PDI's congress last December. She has been facing
dissension in a number of regions, including Aceh, North Sumatra,
West Java and East Java. In some of these regions, the party is
split with the formation of rival boards, one pro-Megawati and
the other opposed to her.
The rebel party members also objected to what they said was
her interference in the party's regional affairs.
Alex, a wealthy businessman and a racecar driver, played a
prominent role in Megawati's election last December. He is also
believed to have close relations with the government which, given
the reputation of the party, could either be a major asset or a
liability for a PDI leader.
Alex, however, has been widely blamed for letting PDI slip in
Jakarta during the last election. PDI's seats in the City Council
dropped from 14 out of 60 seats in 1987 to a mere 13 of the
expanded 75-strong council.
Alex last year was acquitted by a Jakarta court of accusation
that he ordered the beating rebel PDI supporters in 1992. An
indictment would have costed him his political career for good.
His contenders are Hamad Ginting of the North Jakarta branch,
Subur Budiman and Marwan Adam, both members of the House of
Representatives (DPR), Hendro S. Soebroto and Lukman F.
Mokoginta, both of the Central Jakarta branch.
Lukman, who chairs the Jakarta branch, appears to be the main
contender and is claiming that he has the support of all the five
branches in Jakarta.
Lukman tossed his cap into the ring yesterday just hours
before the congress began by calling a luncheon conference with
journalists. "If I'm elected, I will make PDI an even better
choice for youths, students and the poor," he said.
Lukman, 45, is also a businessman and boss of the Young
Democrats, a youth organization affiliated with the PDI.
(par/pan)