Megawati blocked again from meeting supporters<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Despite strong criticism from all quarters, the
\nEast Java administration has again prevented Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party Chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri from meeting
\nher supporters.<\/p>\n
The authorities have reportedly refused to issue permits for
\nthe party's branch office in Bojonegoro regency to hold a June 1
\nmeeting, which Megawati had planned to attend.<\/p>\n
The Antara news agency quoted Sutjipto, chairman of the
\nparty's East Java provincial branch, as saying on Saturday that
\nthe rejection did not come as a surprise to any of the local
\nparty leaders.<\/p>\n
\"We expected the authorities to turn down our request allowing
\nher to attend the gathering,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The latest ban on Megawati from meeting her supporters in East
\nJava is the sixth in about a year. The Indonesian Democratic
\nParty (PDI) has strong support in the province, where her father,
\nthe late president Sukarno, was born.<\/p>\n
At one time or another, Megawati has been barred from
\nattending PDI gatherings in the regencies of Mojokerto, Pasuruan,
\nProbolinggo, Sumenep and Kediri, and the capital Surabaya.<\/p>\n
Chief of the Brawijaya regional military command, Maj. Gen.
\nImam Utomo, recently stated that the authorities would not
\nprevent Megawati from meeting with activists at the regency level
\nprovided that all local party activists kept the meetings
\nincident-free.<\/p>\n
PDI members in East Java are split into two opposing camps,
\nwith one supporting the leadership of her confidante Sutjipto and
\nthe other backing her arch rival Latief Pudjosakti, who also has
\nthe backing of the government.<\/p>\n
The authorities have given Latief tacit permission several
\ntimes to hold meetings with his supporters. At one point, local
\nofficials even attended a meeting chaired by Latief.<\/p>\n
Antara also reported that Latief, who was sacked by Megawati
\nfor dissension, is already planning to hold another gathering in
\nKediri soon.<\/p>\n
Two political scientists yesterday criticized East Java
\nGovernor Basofi Soedirman for his \"discriminatory treatment\"
\ntowards Megawati, asserting that the policy would backfire and
\ntarnish his own name.<\/p>\n
\"The provincial administration's stance is way out of line,\"
\nMaswadi Rauf told The Jakarta Post. \"The public can't help but
\nblame Basofi and conclude that the authorities have been
\nviolating Megawati's rights.\"<\/p>\n
Maswadi and his colleague, Arbi Sanit, both staff lecturers at
\nthe University of Indonesia, agreed that the bans only succeeded
\nin smearing the East Java administration and, consequently,
\nGolkar.<\/p>\n
\"I think Basofi is behind the whole affair,\" Arbi told the
\nPost. He pointed out that Basofi was governor when Golkar won in
\nJakarta in the 1992 general elections.<\/p>\n
\"He probably wants Golkar to achieve the same victory in East
\nJava,\" he said. \"Unfortunately the East Java public is more
\ninclined toward PDI because of the historical ties and influence
\nof Sukarno.\"<\/p>\n
The repeated bannings have created the impression that \"the
\nauthorities are playing a game with PDI\", Maswadi said.<\/p>\n
\"They seem to have made up all those excuses for not issuing
\npermits for PDI gatherings,\" he said. \"When they are confused
\nenough, the public will eventually blame the East Java
\nadministration and Basofi.\"<\/p>\n
\"How come Golkar leaders never have problems in requesting
\npermits to hold meetings?\" Maswadi said. \"Basofi should examine
\nhimself and his subordinates. He can't keep washing his hands of
\nthe affair.\"<\/p>\n
Maswadi suggested that Basofi and his staff meet Megawati,
\nSutjipto and Latief to try to solve the conflicts together.
\n\"Everybody concerned should have the grace to be flexible in
\norder to reach a satisfactory solution,\" Maswadi said. (swe\/anr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/megawati-blocked-again-from-meeting-supporters-1447893297",
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