Golkar, PPP luring displaced members of PDI: Megawati<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The ousted chief of the Indonesian Democratic
\nParty (PDI), Megawati Soekarnoputri, accused Golkar and the
\nUnited Development Party (PPP) yesterday of racing to attract
\ndisplaced PDI members before the May 29 general election.<\/p>\n
She said she had proof that the dominant Golkar and the
\nMoslem-based PPP were trying to woo PDI supporters displaced by a
\nleadership split ravaging the party.<\/p>\n
\"I have evidence of the two political contestants' campaign to
\nattract PDI members,\" she said after a ceremony, marking the end
\nof commemorations for the PDI's 24th anniversary, at her home in
\nPasar Minggu, South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"I have received reports from PDI chapters and branches
\nnationwide that Golkar and PPP have persuaded members to vote for
\nthem,\" Megawati said.<\/p>\n
She said she had no plan to stop the two political
\norganizations luring her supporters. \"Golkar and PPP are free to
\ntry to influence PDI members to vote for them. It's up to PDI
\nmembers to decide,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Megawati was ousted in a government-backed congress in the
\nNorth Sumatra capital of Medan last June. The congress then
\nelected Soerjadi as PDI's chairman.<\/p>\n
Since then, the PDI has been divided into two camps, one
\nsupporting Soerjadi and the other supporting Megawati. But many
\nPDI supporters were left confused and detached by the rift.<\/p>\n
Megawati has repeatedly said the congress was illegal and that
\nshe remains the lawful PDI leader.<\/p>\n
PDI was born in 1973 out of a merger of five former
\nnationalist and Christian political parties -- the Indonesian
\nNationalist Party, the Murba Party, the Independent Vanguard
\nParty, the Indonesian Catholic Party and the Christian Party.<\/p>\n
On her loyalists' support, Megawati said they wanted her to
\nregain leadership of the PDI.<\/p>\n
\"My supporters want the government to reinstate my political
\nrights as the PDI leader,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Her deputies Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno, I Gusti Ngurah Sara and
\nMangara Siahaan, secretary-general Alexander Litaay, deputy
\nsecretary-general Haryanto Taslam and legislators M. Taufiq
\nKiemas, Tarto Sudiro, Sukowaluyo Mintorahardjo, S.G.B.
\nTampubolon, S. Djatikoesoemo and Sutjipto attended the ceremony.<\/p>\n
Several chairmen of PDI chapters and branches and about 100
\nMegawati supporters were also on hand.<\/p>\n
Megawati said her faction's political stand on the May 29
\nelection would be announced soon.<\/p>\n
But she questioned the meaning of the general election.<\/p>\n
\"For me and my supporters, our participation in the general
\nelection is only to fulfill our duty as citizens, namely to cast
\nour votes,\" she said.<\/p>\n
\"But what about our rights to be elected in the elections?\"
\nshe asked.<\/p>\n
Observer<\/p>\n
Several people have alleged that the preliminary stages of the
\ngeneral election have been marred by cheating, especially by the
\ndominant Golkar. Many have suggested that independent observers
\nshould follow the poll.<\/p>\n
A proponent of this idea is legal expert Abdul Hakim Garuda
\nNusantara, who is also chairman of the Institute for Policy
\nResearch and Advocacy. He said in a discussion here yesterday
\nthat observers would help the election committees monitor and
\nidentify complaints during the election.<\/p>\n
\"Local observers can effectively identify the problems and
\nforward the results to the election committees,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Abdul said complaints might include unfairness and violations
\nby the government apparatus regarding the use of party colors and
\nelectronic media for campaign exposure.<\/p>\n
He said that local observers' credibility and neutrality could
\nhelp improve the election's quality, while foreign observers
\ncould provide comparative views on elections.<\/p>\n
Abdul said observers played an important role in informing
\nvoters of their rights in elections in neighboring Asian
\ncountries, including the Philippines and Bangladesh.<\/p>\n
He said quality general elections were a long-term, on-going
\ngoal. (imn\/01)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/golkar-ppp-luring-displaced-members-of-pdi-megawati-1447893297",
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