President Megawati Sukarnoputri's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) could split apart following parliament's decision not to investigate House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tanjung's role in a multimillion dollar scandal.
The party's support for a second term for Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso has also caused dissent within the party while another gubernurial race – in which the party is likely to back Maj. Gen. Sudrajat as Governor of Bandung – is also creating friction.
At least one PDI-P legislator has already resigned, while another says disillusioned members could form a splinter party.
Indira Damayanti Sugondo sent her letter of resignation to Megawati on July 1 – the day parliament voted overwhelmingly not to form an inquiry into the Tanjung graft case.
Of PDI-P's 153 legislators, only five voted in favor of the inquiry, while three voted against it, and 92 abstained. Those in favor of the inquiry were Sugondo, Mochtar Buchori, Haryanto Taslam, Julius Usman and Meliono Suwondo.
Suwondo said Wednesday that disappointed PDI-P members might form a rival party. "It is possible that rumors about the formation of a PDIP-Reform or Revolutionary PDIP will come into being as a concrete reaction of the disappointed members, whose numbers are increasing," he was quoted as saying by state news agency Antara.
He said a small group of PDI-P members, including Buchori and Usman, recently formed a "communication forum" at a meeting in Bogor, West Java, to discuss the party's failure to combat corruption.
Suwondo said PDI-P's stance on the Tanjung case could tarnish the party's image and prevent it from winning the 2004 general election.
Several PDI-P members have also been disgusted by Megawati's decision to support Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso for a second term in office. Sutiyoso was chief of the city's military command when state troops and hired thugs attacked Megawati's party headquarters on July 27, 1996, sparking deadly riots.
About 400 PDI-P supporters rallied in Jakarta on Tuesday to condemn Megawati's support of Sutiyoso. Grouped in the so-called July 27 1996 Harmony Communication Forum, the protesters said PDI-P was no longer a democratic party of the people, but had become an organization of business people who exploit the party's cadres, members and supporters.
"PDI-P, which has claimed to be the pioneer of democracy, has actually moved backward in terms of its vision, mission and struggle, especially in terms of the election of the Jakarta governor," said forum coordinator Thomas Resmol. He lamented that the perpetrators of the July 27 incident are still yet to be dealt with appropriately.
The backing for Maj. Gen. Sudrajat, now director general of defense strategy at the Department of Defense, reported to be coming from Megawati's husband Taufik Kiemas, has upset party faithful and students in Bandung, capital of West Java province.
Opponents to the move are not objecting to Sudrajat in person, but over the continuing support of the party for military involvement in politics.
In Jakarta, dissent over the support for Sutiyoso has permeated the city council, where a number of councillors defied the party's central board Monday and rejected the nomination. City chapter chairman Tarmidi Suhardjo said he still planned to run for election, The Jakarta Post reported.
PDI-P deputy chairman Roy B. B. Janis is the only one of a number of party candidates for the post who has withdrawn in line with the central board decision.