Drop suit Megawati: Gus Dur<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Controversial Moslem leader Abdurrahman Wahid
\nsuggested yesterday that deposed leader of the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party (PDI) Megawati Soekarnoputri withdraw her
\nlawsuit against the government on political grounds.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman, better-known as Gus Dur, said Megawati's lawsuit
\nhas developed into a never-ending confrontation that will not do
\nher or the government any good.<\/p>\n
\"Her court battle fails to function as a corrective measure
\nfor the government, as it was originally intended,\" Abdurrahman
\ntold journalists.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman, leader of the 30-million-strong Nahdlatul Ulama
\nand known as Megawati's \"ally\", claimed he was not under pressure
\nfrom the government to give advice to her.<\/p>\n
Currently, the Central Jakarta District Court is hearing her
\nlawsuit against the minister of home affairs, the Armed Forces
\nchief and the National Police chief for backing a June rebel
\ncongress that unseated her.<\/p>\n
She has also sued Soerjadi, her political foe who was elected
\nchairman in the disputed congress, for holding the parley. She
\nremains steadfast in her claim that she is the legitimate PDI
\nchief until 1998, when the party will call a mandatory congress
\nto elect its new executive board.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman agreed that she should go ahead with her lawsuit
\nagainst Soerjadi.<\/p>\n
The government has shifted its recognition from Megawati, who
\nwas democratically elected in 1993, to Soerjadi.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman said he had consulted with senior journalists and
\ninfluential figures before publicly announcing the suggestion.<\/p>\n
He argued that the confrontation would cause a great loss to
\nthe PDI, to Megawati, as well as to the government.<\/p>\n
\"The long-lasting confrontation will disturb next year's
\ngeneral election and the 1998 general meeting of the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (which is to elect a new president),\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman said he had personally asked Megawati to withdraw
\nthe lawsuit against the three government officials.<\/p>\n
When asked about Megawati's reaction, Abdurrahman said that
\nshe was afraid withdrawing the suit would confuse the people
\nabout her stand, but she had not decided anything yet.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman made it clear that his suggestion did not mean
\nthat he was beginning to distance himself from Megawati.<\/p>\n
\"I still recognize Megawati as the legitimate leader of PDI.
\nSoerjadi had stolen her seat,\" he said. He argued that by
\nwithdrawing the lawsuit, Megawati would not lose her supporters'
\ntrust.<\/p>\n
Armed Forces Chief for Sociopolitical Affairs Lt. Gen. Syarwan
\nHamid has advised Megawati earlier this week to re-enter formal
\npolitics if she wanted to make a comeback.<\/p>\n
\"If she enters formal politics, she can reemerge with new
\nstrength and exert all her political assets in the 1998 party
\ncongress,\" Syarwan said Monday, adding that President Soeharto
\nhas, in fact, given the same advice to Megawati.<\/p>\n
He called on Megawati, the eldest daughter of the late
\npresident Sukarno, to understand that the government could not
\nacknowledge her and Soerjadi at the same time.<\/p>\n
\"She should not make trouble all the time, like opening a new
\nparty headquarters and then suing the government for closing it,
\nand so forth. It's outrageous,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Earlier last week, Megawati reached an out-of-court settlement
\nregarding a lawsuit she filed against Syarwan, whom she charged
\nwith slander. Megawati said Syarwan publicly accused her of
\ntrying to topple the government. (imn\/16)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/drop-suit-megawati-gus-dur-1447893297",
"image": ""
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