Govt wants Megawati's to move congress site<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): While the police have yet to issue a permit for
\na congress planned by the faction of the Indonesian Democratic
\nParty (PDI) loyal to ousted leader Megawati Soekarnoputri, the
\ngovernment has begun to bargain with organizers to move the
\nmeeting out of Bali.<\/p>\n
The director general of sociopolitical affairs in the Ministry
\nof Home Affairs, Dunidja, said on Friday that the government
\nwould help the congress financially if it was held outside Bali,
\nthe country's top tourist destination.<\/p>\n
\"Bali, through tourism, is one of Indonesia's main sources of
\nforeign income,\" Dunidja said.<\/p>\n
\"The home affairs ministry has decided to let Mbak Mega
\ncontinue with her planned congress as long as it's not held in
\nBali,\" he said in Surabaya as quoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, Minister of Defense and Security\/Armed Forces
\nCommander Gen. Wiranto said the government would need to consider
\nthe security and economic aspects of the proposed congress before
\nissuing a permit.<\/p>\n
On Friday, National Police chief Lt. Gen. Roesmanhadi said the
\norganizers would have to formally apply for a permit for the
\ncongress, which the faction plans to hold from Oct. 8 to Oct. 10.<\/p>\n
\"The police have received informal notification of the planned
\ncongress. Megawati's camp has informed Brig. Gen. Kusuyudono, who
\nis the National Police chief's assistant for intelligence
\naffairs,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"If they (the organizers) go ahead with the congress without
\nsecuring police approval, they will be sanctioned under Article
\n510 of the Criminal Code for holding a mass gathering without a
\npermit,\" he said, adding that the penalty for doing so would be
\ntwo weeks imprisonment.<\/p>\n
The police chief also dismissed the possibility of granting
\napproval if Megawati insisted on using the PDI's name.
\nRoesmanhadi reiterated that the government only recognizes the
\nleadership of Budi Hardjono, who was elected in a congress in
\nPalu, Central Sulawesi, last month to replace Soerjadi as the
\nhead of the government-backed faction of the party.<\/p>\n
Dunidja said that if Megawati used the same name she would be
\nviolating Law No. 3\/1985 on political parties, which states that
\none name can only be used by one party. The government says the
\nPDI's name belongs to Budi's camp.<\/p>\n
Regarding financial assistance for Megawati's PDI, Dunidja
\nsaid the government was committed to helping all political
\nparties contest next May's general election.<\/p>\n
\"Financial assistance is not limited to the existing three
\npolitical organizations -- Golkar, the United Development Party
\n(PPP) and the PDI,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, 5,000 Megawati supporters from the PDI's East Java
\nchapter said they would participate in the congress.<\/p>\n
\"The delegation from the PDI's East Java chapter will leave
\nfor Bali on Oct. 6,\" Sutjipto, the chairman of the East Java
\nchapter loyal to Megawati said, adding that the delegation would
\nconsist of 122 officials.<\/p>\n
He said that they would renominate Megawati Soekarnoputri for
\nthe party's leadership.<\/p>\n
In Maluku, 1,000 university students staged a rally in support
\nof Megawati's nomination for the presidency next year. The rally
\nwas held in front of the Governor's office in Ambon.<\/p>\n
Benhur Watubun, the chairman of the Maluku University Students
\nCouncil, said they wanted Megawati to be president because she
\nhas been a vociferous opponent of corruption, collusion and
\nnepotism among the ruling elite.<\/p>\n
In Semarang the deputy chairman of Megawati's PDI, Oetojo,
\nsaid if the government had not recognized their camp before the
\nspecial session of the People's Consultative Assembly slated in
\nNovember, supporters would march to the Assembly. (imn\/emf\/nur\/har)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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