'Long march' for Megawati ends<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Members and supporters of the dispute-ridden
\nIndonesian Democratic Party (PDI) concluded their \"long march\"
\nyesterday outside the House of Representatives in support of the
\nousted party leader, Megawati Soekarnoputri.<\/p>\n
Led by Roch Basoeki Mangoenpoerojo, a retired army colonel,
\nthe 100-strong group calling itself the Constitution-loving PDI
\nCadres met People's Consultative Assembly Deputy Speaker
\nAmiruddin to cap off their six-day plane hop from Bali.<\/p>\n
The group disbanded after relaying Amiruddin their concerns
\nabout the rift in the PDI.<\/p>\n
In the brief meeting, Basoeki called on the People's
\nConsultative Assembly to remind the government to enforce the law
\nconsistently and improve public services.<\/p>\n
The group demanded that the government revoke the PDI's list
\nof legislative candidates pending a court decision on the party's
\nleadership dispute. And they suggested the Armed Forces break its
\naffiliation with Golkar and the bureaucracy.<\/p>\n
\"It's now up to the conscience of the 1,000 members of the
\nassembly whether they will take our demands into consideration,\"
\nBasoeki said.<\/p>\n
Under tight security, the long march from Denpasar got only as
\nfar as Surabaya before the East Java military command flew the
\nPDI activists back to Bali.<\/p>\n
The East Java and Nusa Tenggara military commands had agreed
\nto prevent the long march, saying that security risks were too
\ngreat.<\/p>\n
Immediately after Basoeki declared that the march had ended,
\nthe activists regrouped and demonstrated in the House of
\nRepresentatives compound. Under the watchful eyes of riot police,
\nthey unfurled a red banner which read \"Megawati must win\".<\/p>\n
\"This is a spontaneous expression of each individual, because
\nas a group we did not lend support to any camps. We just wanted
\nto show our concern for the party,\" said Basoeki, who joined the
\ncheering crowd.<\/p>\n
Willy Najoan, who joined the long march, said that most of the
\ngroup had pledged their allegiance to Megawati who was dethroned
\nin a government-backed congress last year. The congress appointed
\nformer chairman Soerjadi to the party's helm.<\/p>\n
\"We are now waiting for her (Megawati's) instructions on the
\ngeneral election,\" said Willy, an account manager of a computer
\ntraining company.<\/p>\n
Megawati loyalist Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno said earlier that
\nMegawati's camp had severed its relationship with Basoeki.<\/p>\n
Megawati, who soared to the party's pinnacle in 1994, is
\nbelieved to have retained the loyalty of many PDI supporters
\ndespite Soerjadi's claim that his leadership has full support
\nfrom the party's grassroots.<\/p>\n
Strike<\/p>\n
Yogyakarta police and security personnel forcibly dispersed a
\ndemonstration by about 200 Megawati supporters at Gadjah Mada
\nUniversity campus yesterday. They confiscated dozens of placards
\nand banners emblazoned with support for the ousted chief of the
\nPDI.<\/p>\n
Calling themselves the Committee for Indonesian Democracy, the
\nstudents said they were hunger striking for Megawati's
\nreinstatement and democracy.<\/p>\n
The demonstrators took turns at speaking and reading poems.
\nOccasionally they yelled: \"Boycott the general elections.\"<\/p>\n
Witnesses said 23 students and activists were arrested.
\nSeveral protesters and bystanders said they were beaten by
\nsecurity personnel. (amd\/23)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/long-march-for-megawati-ends-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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