THE lobby of the Grand Bali Beach Hotel, Denpasar, was filled with antagonism. A group of people who were not allowed to enter the congress went out of control. For 30 minutes, they pushed and shoved the organizing committee. Party banners were thrown on the floor. The two conflicting camps were led by Yusuf Pardamaian and Palar Nainggolan—both claiming to be the rightful Chairman of the Democrat Party in North Sumatra.

Tensions were r