Megawati responsible for security in Bali: Habibie<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie has told ousted
\nIndonesian Democratic Party (PDI) leader Megawati Soekarnoputri
\nthat she is to help ensure security and order during her
\nfaction's congress in Bali this week.<\/p>\n
He reportedly told the eldest daughter of the country's first
\npresident that any security disturbances would seriously affect
\ntourism on the island.<\/p>\n
\"He (Habibie) has conveyed to Ibu Megawati that she is also
\nresponsible for the security (of the congress) because Bali is
\nthe gateway for Indonesian tourism,\" Bali Governor Dewa Made
\nBeratha said on Tuesday after meeting the President at Merdeka
\nPalace. He did not know when Habibie first delivered the message
\nto Megawati.<\/p>\n
Beratha was one of several new governors who met with the
\nPresident for a briefing on their respective provinces. The
\nothers were West Nusa Tenggara Governor Harun Al Rasyid, Central
\nJava Governor Mardiyanto and South Sumatra Rosihan Arsyad.<\/p>\n
The Bali governor said he had yet to receive an invitation to
\nattend the congress, but pledged that he would attend if invited.<\/p>\n
Quoting reports from Balinese hoteliers, Beratha said the Bali
\ntourist industry had not been affected by the congress.<\/p>\n
\"All foreign consulates in Bali also support the congress.
\nThere is no fear at all,\" the governor said.<\/p>\n
The Bali administration will help safeguard the congress, he
\nsaid, while simultaneously promoting tourism on the island.<\/p>\n
\"We will help the congress committee with security. If
\nanything wrong happens, it will ruin the image of Indonesia in
\nthe international community,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He dismissed speculation that \"preemptive\" measures had been
\ntaken to prevent Megawati supporters from entering Bali via the
\nBanyuwangi-Gilimanuk ferry shuttle service. \"There has been no
\ncutback in the ferry shuttle service schedule,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Separately, Minister of Home Affairs Syarwan Hamid said on
\nTuesday that Megawati would still have to obtain government
\nrecognition of her party faction.<\/p>\n
\"She (Megawati) cannot neglect the importance of the
\ngovernment's recognition since it is a regulation,\" he told
\nreporters during a break of a hearing with the House of
\nRepresentatives (DPR) Commission II on political affairs.<\/p>\n
\"Legal recognition of her PDI can only be obtained after the
\nthree political draft laws are passed,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Syarwan dismissed allegations that he had personal feelings
\nagainst Megawati. The minister has been charged of condoning the
\n1996 PDI Medan Congress which elected Soerjadi as chairman to
\nreplace Megawati. The congress is not recognized by Megawati's
\nPDI faction.<\/p>\n
Syarwan was the Armed Forces chief of social political affairs
\nat the time. \"It has nothing to do with likes or dislikes.
\nEverything must be in compliance with regulations,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He declined to comment on Megawati's apparent negligence to
\ninvite him to the congress, saying that he was responsible for
\nthe completion of the drafts of the three political laws prior to
\nthe general election slated for next year.<\/p>\n
Congress organizers report they are nearly ready for the Oct.
\n8 to Oct. 10 gathering, saying the preparations at the venue, the
\nGrand Bali Beach Hotel, are almost complete.<\/p>\n
Members of the PDI executive board loyal to Megawati,
\nincluding secretary-general Alexander Litaay, chief treasurer
\nLaksamana Sukardi and PDI senior member Sabam Sirait, have also
\narrived on the island.<\/p>\n
Megawati will reportedly arrive on Wednesday. She and her
\nfamily on Tuesday stopped for a day in Blitar, East Java, where
\nthey paid homage to the grave of her father, Sukarno.<\/p>\n
Megawati is popular in Bali since one of her grandmothers,
\nIdaju, was Balinese. Idaju's uncle was the last monarch of Bali's
\nSingaraja Kingdom. (prb\/43\/imn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/megawati-responsible-for-security-in-bali-habibie-1447893297",
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