It's not the end of the world: Soerjadi<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Democratic Party's (PDI) failure
\nto unite just five months before the general election \"is not the
\nend of the world,\" its government-backed chairman says.<\/p>\n
\"We have been quite successful in consolidating. Don't dismiss
\nthese efforts too readily,\" Soerjadi was quoted by Antara as
\nsaying on Saturday.<\/p>\n
He was speaking to reporters at Selaparang airport in Mataram,
\nWest Nusa Tenggara, after arriving to begin his campaign to
\npersuade the region's party faithful to join his camp.<\/p>\n
Soerjadi was met by the local military chief and a handful of
\nexecutives from the party's provincial chapter.<\/p>\n
His earlier consolidation campaigns in towns in Java flopped
\nbecause he was met by hostile PDI members still loyal to Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri, officially the party's chairperson until she was
\nremoved at an extraordinary congress in Medan in June.<\/p>\n
Soerjadi was attacked by a mob on one of his visits.<\/p>\n
\"If we read the newspapers, we get the impression that PDI is
\nabout to break up because of the endless demonstrations. But
\nthose who took part in the demonstrations were always the same
\npeople,\" Soerjadi said.<\/p>\n
He insisted that many Megawati supporters had changed to his
\ncamp following his consolidation drive, and only a handful
\nremained loyal to her.<\/p>\n
\"We won't force those who do not wish to join,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Soerjadi said he was not worried about the election.<\/p>\n
His executive board has nominated 744 candidates to run for
\nseats in the House of Representatives.<\/p>\n
The PDI's candidates are younger than those running for Golkar
\nand the United Development Party, he said.<\/p>\n
Soerjadi said he had not considered withdrawing a libel suit
\nagainst the Jawa Pos newspaper for suggesting that he was
\ninterrogated for five hours by Jakarta Police.<\/p>\n
He described the article as a \"fatal lie\".
\n w\"They (newspaper's proprietors) have apologized and, as a
\nMoslem, I accept it. But what about the damage done, what about
\nthe impression the article has left in the minds of millions of
\nreaders?\"<\/p>\n
\"Let's wait and see how it develops. They have written to
\napologize and request a face to face meeting.<\/p>\n
\"If they wish to meet me, I'm open. I will meet them,\" he
\nsaid. (emb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/its-not-the-end-of-the-world-soerjadi-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}