Megawati ready to be reelected PDI-P chief<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): In front of an enthusiastic sea of red-and-black
\nclad supporters, Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri said she
\nwas ready to be reelected chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic
\nParty of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan).<\/p>\n
Her statement was met with a resounding roar from the 75,000
\npeople who filled Senayan Stadium to commemorate the party's 75th
\nanniversary.<\/p>\n
Megawati's assertion of her readiness to accept the nomination
\nfor another five-year term effectively ends the chances of any
\nlikely challengers when the party holds its congress in Semarang
\nin March.<\/p>\n
\"I'm ready to be nominated at next March's congress,\" Megawati
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The party's Jakarta chapter chairman, Roy B.B. Janis, who
\nspoke before Megawati, set the stage for the Vice President by
\nasking her to head the party.<\/p>\n
Sidelined during the final days of the New Order government
\nunder then president Soeharto, PDI Perjuangan rose to become the
\ntop vote getter in last June's general election.<\/p>\n
There can be little doubt that Megawati gets much of her
\ncharisma from her father, founding president Sukarno. But on
\nThursday she came into her own, evidenced by the thousands of
\nphotos of her and President Abdurrahman Wahid being waved by the
\ncrowd.<\/p>\n
The magnitude of the event was made evident by the presence of
\nAbdurrahman at the ceremony.<\/p>\n
In his speech, the President indicated his support for his
\nVice President's nomination for another term as the party's
\nchairwoman.<\/p>\n
\"I don't want to meddle in internal party matters, but I would
\nbe grateful if my sister was renominated,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Aside from the usual brouhaha of a political party's
\nanniversary, the event seemed to be designed as a \"nationalist\"
\nresponse to Muslim gatherings in recent weeks calling for a holy
\nwar in response to sectarian violence in Maluku.<\/p>\n
The stadium was decorated with models of houses of worship
\nfrom different religions standing side-by-side.<\/p>\n
In his speech, Abdurrahman specifically vouched for Megawati's
\nIslamic credentials. \"Megawati is a Muslim. Muslims are not only
\nsantri (students at traditional Muslim schools), but can also be
\nfruit sellers in the city.\"<\/p>\n
PDI Perjuangan has often been labeled a Christian party or
\ncontrolled by Christians. A minister under former president B.J.
\nHabibie once questioned Megawati's religious denomination based
\non the fact that she had once been seen in a Hindu temple.<\/p>\n
The President also cited a Koranic verse which describes
\npeople as being from different tribes and nations, and urges them
\nto know and love each other.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman then said Sukarno, who was known as a fervent
\nnationalist, could get along with a known Marxist like Tan Malaka
\nand Abdurrahman's father Wahid Hasyim, who was a Muslim cleric.<\/p>\n
\"The most important thing is the progress of this nation. Why
\ncan't we respect each other in spite of our differences,\" he
\nasked. (jun\/06)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/megawati-ready-to-be-reelected-pdi-p-chief-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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