Jakarta – A number of former activist who were part of the popular struggle against the New Order regime have formally joined the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).

The former activists are part of the Volunteers for Democratic Struggle (Repdem) which was officially inaugurated at the office of the central executive board of the PDI-P in Lenteng Agung, Jakarta, on Thursday June 9.

They were formally accepted into the PDI-P and at the same time inaugurated as members of Repdem by the PDI-P chairperson former President Megawati Sukarnoputri. The former activists will join the ranks of the PDI-P which has declared itself as an opposition party against the government of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

The activists include Budiman Sudjatmiko (former chairperson of the People’s Democratic Party), Bambang Bitor Surjadi, Mashinton Pasaribu (former Pamred presidium member), Afnan Malai (Yogyakarta), Soewignyo (a researcher at Island Nation Solidarity), Jhon Soni (Pekan Baru, Riau), Erong Pata (Jakarta), Hamzah Ohaiwa (Underground Student Commission), Muhammad Thoha (a former member of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence, Kontras), Achik, Marlin Dinamikanto (Information Centre for Action and Reformation Network, Pijar), Wanto Sugito (City Network, Jarkot) and Akuat Supriyanto. (M-15)

[Translated by Risna.]