Megawati camp protests candidate list endorsement<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Megawati Soekarnoputri is to lodge a protest
\nwith the General Elections Institute today against endorsement of
\nthe list of legislature candidates submitted by Soerjadi, who
\nlast year ousted her from the helm of the Indonesian Democratic
\nParty (PDI).<\/p>\n
Megawati's central executive board, no longer recognized by
\nthe government, is to send a copy of its protest letter to the
\nNational Commission on Human Rights.<\/p>\n
Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno, deputy chairman of Megawati's board,
\ntold reporters yesterday the list of legislature candidates
\nannounced by the institute Monday was filed by the \"illegal and
\nunconstitutional\" party central board led by Soerjadi.<\/p>\n
\"As the party's central board, under the legitimate leadership
\nof Megawati, we strongly protest and reject (Soerjadi's) central
\nboard's list of legislative candidates for the 1997 general
\nelection,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said Soerjadi's board had not yet been legally recognized
\nand should therefore not have been allowed to draw up and submit
\na list of legislature candidates.<\/p>\n
\"We are urging the institute to drop (Soerjadi's) list.
\nOtherwise, it will have unfavorable political impacts and erode
\nthe quality and credibility of the 1997 general election,\"
\nSoetardjo said.<\/p>\n
The board also called on the government to \"sincerely look
\ninto the real problem and find solutions,\" Soetardjo said.<\/p>\n
Yesterday, Soetardjo was accompanied by the party's secretary-
\ngeneral Alex Litaay, deputy secretary-general Haryanto Taslam,
\nand I Gusti Ngurah Sarah. Megawati was absent.<\/p>\n
Soetardjo said the protest would also be sent to the National
\nCommission on Human Rights, which had clearly accused Soerjadi
\nand his 200 men of involvement in the July 27 violent takeover of
\nthe party's headquarters. The incident led to riots that left
\nfive dead and 23 others still missing.<\/p>\n
Alex pointed out Soerjadi's alleged involvement in the
\ntakeover as another factor that made his claim to party
\nleadership \"legally defective\". The institute had the right to
\nturn down lists of legislature candidates drawn up by such
\nleaders, he pointed out.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the Election Screening Committee Sutoyo N.K. urged
\nthe public Monday not to hesitate in lodging complaints to the
\ninstitute about any candidates.<\/p>\n
However, he said, complaints should be supported by facts so
\ncorrective measures could be taken, adding that justified
\ncomplaints could result in the dismissal of candidates.<\/p>\n
Separately, the chairman of the 30 million-strong Nahdlatul
\nUlama organization, Abdurrahman Wahid, pointed out raising
\nobjections against legislature candidates would be \"complicated.\"<\/p>\n
\"Complicated, meaning the person filing the objection should
\nbe probed along with various and complicated evidence,\"
\nAbdurrahman told reporters after meeting with Vice President Try
\nSutrisno yesterday.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman, better known as Gus Dur, said if the institute
\nhad been brave enough to invite objections from the public, it
\nshould have prepared mechanisms for the purpose.<\/p>\n
\"Let's just see how it (the invitation) turns out,\" the
\nchairman of Indonesia's largest Moslem organization said. (08)<\/p>\n
Editorial -- Page 4<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/megawati-camp-protests-candidate-list-endorsement-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }