Yogie tells PDI to resolve its internal conflicts
Yogie tells PDI to resolve its internal conflicts
SURAKARTA, Central Java (JP): Minister of Home Affairs Moh.
Yogie SM told the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) here
yesterday to find an effective mechanism to resolve its internal
crisis.
Speaking before the celebration of the party's 22nd
anniversary at the Manahan Sports Hall, Yogie denied "external
intervention" into PDI's internal problems.
"External intervention" is the current catchword for
allegations that the authorities are meddling in the internal
problems of organizations.
"The most important thing for the PDI now is to find a way to
determine its own destiny, whether or not there is any external
intervention," said the minister, who is considered responsible
for the nation's political development.
He said he hoped that the crisis-hit party will be able to
resolve its internal conflict before it tarnishes the nation's
image in the eyes of the world.
Internal squabbles have plagued the PDI since its very
beginnings in 1973.
Recently one of its board members set up a rival national
leadership body to challenge chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri,
who had dismissed him for backing an act of insubordination by
PDI activists in East Java.
Gerry Mbatemoy, the former board member, and his followers in
Indonesia's most populated province, have been at the center of
the new crisis, which started after a local East Java chapter
failed to elect a provincial board.
Latief Pudjosakti, one of the leading PDI activists in the
province, set up his own self-styled local board. Megawati said
his action was illegal, but Gerry swore in the board members
despite the fact he did not have the party's authorization to do
so.
Yogie clarified his position as the official responsible in
political development in his speech. He said his position as
"patron" is consultative in nature because he does not supervise
the activities of political entities.
He said that the party's dependence on the government, which
is mostly financial in nature, should be reduced.
"A political party which is not independent will not be able
to produce good ideas."
Meanwhile Megawati, eldest daughter of the late president
Sukarno, told 15,000 cheering supporters in her speech to be
aware of "unconstitutional groups who want to paralyze the
party". She did not elaborate.
"I'm sure no healthy thinking PDI activists want to see their
party in disarray," she said.
The chairwoman also said the PDI would go on to fight against
graft in the bureaucracy, collusion between corrupt officials and
businessmen, as well as abuse of power. (har/tis)