Megawati may visit E. Java: Military<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The East Java military chief says Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party (PDI) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri may
\nenter his territory on condition that she skip rift-ridden party
\nbranches.<\/p>\n
PDI members in East Java are divided over who is to chair the
\nparty in their province, with one camp supporting Sutjipto and
\nthe other backing Latief Pudjosakti.<\/p>\n
The East Java government recognizes neither Sutjipto, who was
\nappointed by Megawati, nor Latief, whom it wants to see lead the
\nlocal chapter.<\/p>\n
Local military chief Maj. Gen. Imam Utomo said yesterday in
\nthe provincial capital Surabaya that he feared that Megawati's
\npresence would trigger conflict between those party members who
\nsupported her leadership and those who opposed it.<\/p>\n
\"We don't mind mbak (Mrs.) Mega (Megawati) coming here so long
\nas her presence doesn't stir up tumult,\" he said, as quoted by
\nthe Antara news agency.<\/p>\n
He said physical clashes were likely to break out if Megawati
\nvisited party branches in regencies in which party officials were
\ndivided into two opposing camps.<\/p>\n
The East Java authorities have come under criticism for
\nbarring Megawati from visiting PDI members in the province and
\nfrom formally appointing Sutjipto.<\/p>\n
Governor Basofi Sudirman has said that Sutjipto's installment
\nis not possible until PDI members in the province have reached
\nagreement on the leadership question.<\/p>\n
The conflict between the minority party and the East Java
\ngovernment started last year when a local party congress failed
\nto elect the new provincial chief. A group of local PDI leaders
\nthen chose Latief, Megawati's arch rival, who won the
\ngovernment's sympathy. But Megawati rejected Latief and named
\nSutjipto the new leader in the province.<\/p>\n
After twice being barred from installing Sutjipto, Megawati
\nintends to visit East Java next week. It is not yet known whether
\nthe authorities will permit the visit.<\/p>\n
\"Pak (Mr.) Basofi Sudirman has made it clear that mbak Mega is
\nfree to visit East Java provided that she does not swear in
\nSutjipto, who is not yet entirely acceptable to all party members
\nhere,\" Imam said.<\/p>\n
Imam, who heads the local office of the national security
\nagency, said that the authorities had barred her from visiting
\nPasuruan because the party branch's officials were split into
\nopposing camps.<\/p>\n
The local military authorities were compelled to have her
\nvisit canceled because they felt that her presence would trigger
\nphysical clashes between the rival activists, he said.<\/p>\n
\"In fact, in Pasuruan it was the local party leaders who
\ndecided to have her visit canceled because of the conflict. If
\nall party officials belonged to the same camp, then there would
\nbe no need to bar her,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Imam said Megawati should not insist on having Sutjipto at the
\nhelm, thereby paving the way for a resolution of the conflict.<\/p>\n
The provincial government has been criticized for allowing
\nlast week a gathering in Sidoarjo, just south of Surabaya, at
\nwhich Latief was present.<\/p>\n
But Imam has argued that the meeting was organized by a PDI
\nbranch whose leaders were not split into opposing camps.<\/p>\n
Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M. said in Jakarta on
\nTuesday that he would summon governor Basofi to discuss the
\nunpopular barring of the PDI chief.<\/p>\n
Yogie said he would like to have first hand information on the
\nissue from Basofi. He dismissed suggestions that he should also
\nspeak with Megawati about the dispute. (pan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/megawati-may-visit-e-java-military-1447893297",
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