Jakarta – In another show of deep cracks within the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), five functionaries in Lampung have been dismissed from their posts for defying directives on the recent gubernatorial election.

PDI-P deputy chairman Roy B. B. Janis announced the decision on Tuesday, saying that the disciplinary move would not, however, deprive the five officials of their party membership.

The decision was taken after a weekly party meeting, presided by President Megawati Sukarnoputri.

Lampung is one of the party's influential bases, where the party won 28 of the 75 seats on offer in the 1999 general election.

This is the second time that the party has handed out heavy punishment to disloyal members since the dismissal of Mr Tarmidi Soehardjo for challenging Ms Megawati's choice of incumbent Sutiyoso as the candidate for the gubernatorial post in the capital last September.