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PDI-P suspects certain powers behind petition challenging party structure
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Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri (left) reads aloud the oath for newly inaugurated party officials on July 5, 2024, at the PDI-P's headquarters in Lenteng Agung, South Jakarta. Among the newly inaugurated officials are former Central Java governor Ganjar Pranowo and former Jakarta governor Basuki “Ahok“ Tjahaja Purnama. (Antara/Indrianto Eko Suwarso)
T
he Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) suspects certain powers took advantage of the innocence of the party's grassroots supporters and manipulated them into signing a petition to challenge the party structure, said central board member Ronny Talapessy in charge of legal affairs.
Ronny was referring to five petitioners in a motion filed at the Jakarta State Administrative Court to challenge a ministerial decree confirming the new lineup of executives that the PDI-P introduced in July ahead of the candidate registration period for the regional head elections. The petitioners, namely Jairi, Djupri, Manto, Suwari and Sujoko, recently claimed that they were tricked by a person into signing the petition and that they would soon withdraw the motion.
"We see something like this as a manipulative attempt by those who tried to take advantage of commoners who do not understand the law. They were lured into giving a power of attorney [to those behind the petition],” Ronny said in a statement on Thursday.
Ronny said the petitioners withdrawing not only the case at the administrative court but also a similar lawsuit at the Central Jakarta District Court was a responsible move.
Read also: Petitioners to withdraw motion challenging PDI-P structure
Jairi, one of the petitioners, told a press conference on Wednesday night that a person named Anggiat BM Manalu asked them to give their signatures on a blank sheet of paper and deceived them into believing that the signatures would be used for a campaign to support efforts to uphold democracy. He said Anggiat gave them Rp 300,000 (US$19.40) for each signature of support.
“We were scammed,” Jairi said, as quoted by Kompas. “On behalf of the petitioners, I want to extend our apologies to PDI-P chairwoman Ibu Megawati Soekarnoputri and all PDI-P members across the country.”
