ABRI undecided over Megawati's congress permit<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government was still considering whether to
\ngrant a permit for the ousted leader of the splintered Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party (PDI), Megawati Soekarnoputri, to hold a party
\ncongress in Bali next month.<\/p>\n
A cautious Minister of Defense and Security\/Armed Forces
\n(ABRI) Commander Gen. Wiranto said on Thursday that the
\ngovernment would need to consider the security and economic
\naspects of the proposed congress.<\/p>\n
\"All activities connected to our efforts to increase the
\nstate's foreign income cannot be separated from security
\naspects,\" he told reporters after a monthly ministerial meeting
\non political and security affairs.<\/p>\n
\"And Bali is one of our main sources of foreign income through
\ntourism,\" he said.<\/p>\n
National Police information officer Lt. Col. Saleh Saaf
\nconfirmed on Thursday that the police had yet to receive a
\nrequest or letter of notification from Megawati pertaining to the
\nplanned congress.<\/p>\n
\"I've checked with all related units at the National Police
\nHeadquarters. None have received an application or a letter of
\nnotification,\" he told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Megawati's camp recently announced its plan to hold a congress
\nin Bali on Oct. 8 to Oct. 10. The government only recognizes her
\nrival faction in the party, which in August elected Budi Hardjono
\nto its chair in place of Soerjadi. The rival faction's congress
\nwas held in Palu, Central Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
Despite uncertainty over whether the congress would go ahead,
\nMegawati's supporters have rushed to express their readiness to
\nattend.<\/p>\n
In the Central Java town of Purwokerto, loyalists confirmed on
\nThursday that a complete delegation of the Central Java chapter
\nloyal to Megawati would attend the congress. They chapter are
\ncurrently preparing an agenda for the meeting.<\/p>\n
\"We are united and ready to make the congress in Bali a
\nsuccess. No matter what happens,\" Hadi Wasikun, the deputy
\nchairman of the chapter told reporters in Purbalingga, Central
\nJava.<\/p>\n
Separately, hundreds of Megawati supporters from the Central
\nJava coastal town of Cilacap said they would ride to the congress
\nin Denpasar on a convoy of motorbikes.<\/p>\n
\"The plan was made by the members themselves. We, the
\nexecutive board, only gave it out seal of approval,\" said
\nSugiharjo, the chairman of the Cilacap branch loyal to Megawati.<\/p>\n
He said that 200 PDI cadres had applied to join the convoy.<\/p>\n
In the West Java capital of Bandung, thousands of Megawati
\nsupporters also said they would attend the congress.<\/p>\n
\"A total of 10,320 Megawati supporters here have registered to
\nparticipate in the congress,\" Muchtar Budiana, the chairman of
\nMegawati's West Java chapter said as quoted by Antara<\/p>\n
\"Although their number is large, I can guarantee that there
\nwon't be any trouble during their trip there and back,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said the first wave of PDI supporters would leave in buses
\nand personal vehicles on Oct. 2, while the second wave would
\ndepart on Oct. 5. (imn\/emf\/45)<\/p>",
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