Megawati told to be patient and tactical<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Political observers said yesterday Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri, having no chance of retaining her Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party (PDI) top slot, should make peace with her
\nouster Soerjadi.<\/p>\n
They argued that Megawati and Soerjadi should call a truce,
\nfor at least a year, and work together to improve PDI's likely
\nshowing in this year's general election.<\/p>\n
The latest advice for the arch rivals came from political
\nscholars Arbi Sanit and Yahya Muhaimin and former home affairs
\nminister Rudini.<\/p>\n
They agreed the key to possible reconciliation rested with
\nMegawati, who was toppled by Soerjadi in a government-sanctioned
\nrebel congress in Medan last year.<\/p>\n
\"It will be very difficult for Megawati to regain the party
\nleadership given the present political situation as she is no
\nlonger recognized by the government,\" Arbi of the University of
\nIndonesia's School of Political Science told Vhe Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
He suggested that Megawati, the eldest daughter of first
\npresident Sukarno, remained patient and tactical in her efforts
\nto regain the PDI top post.<\/p>\n
\"Megawati should not waste her charisma and popularity. She
\nshould compromise with Soerjadi and try to snatch the party
\nleadership when the time is ripe,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Megawati, who was elected by popular vote at the party's
\nextraordinary congress in Surabaya, in 1993, has repeatedly
\nclaimed she is still the party's legitimate leader on the grounds
\nthat the Medan congress failed to represent the actual
\naspirations of the majority of PDI members.<\/p>\n
The leadership conflict has been widely seen as seriously
\nthreatening the minority party's performance in the May election
\nas Soerjadi has become unpopular.<\/p>\n
Arbi predicted there would be some changes in the political
\nclimate, especially after the 1998 presidential election.<\/p>\n
\"It is possible the government and the military will have a
\ndifferent political format after 1998,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The PDI is scheduled to elect its new leader after the 1998
\npresidential election, when Soerjadi's term of office comes to an
\nend.<\/p>\n
In order to slowly regain support from the government and the
\nArmed Forces, Arbi suggested Megawati refrain from conducting
\nactivities which could \"anger\" the government.<\/p>\n
At present, Megawati's ardent refusal to reconcile with
\nSoerjadi is seen by the government and her critics as the source
\nof all conflict within the party.<\/p>\n
Thousands of Megawati's supporters in Jakarta and several
\nprovinces have demonstrated their loyalty to her and their
\ndisgust of Soerjadi's leadership.<\/p>\n
Soerjadi has canceled a number of trips in Java for security
\nreasons.<\/p>\n
Arbi suggested Megawati supporters stop testing the
\nauthorities' patience with their demonstrations of support for
\nher.<\/p>\n
\"I don't mean to say her supporters must stop demonstrating
\ntheir rejection of Soerjadi. They should remember that their
\nradical actions may ruin Megawati's good name in the eyes of the
\ngovernment,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He also suggested Megawati should not call on her loyalists to
\nboycott the general election to demonstrate their frustration.<\/p>\n
\"Otherwise the government will treat Megawati as its enemy,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
The PDI was established on Jan. 10, 1973. It is a merger of
\nfive former Nationalist and tiny Christian political parties --
\nthe Indonesian Nationalist Party, the Murba Party, the
\nIndependence Vanguard Party, the Indonesian Catholic Party and
\nthe Christian Party.<\/p>\n
The merger has turned out to be fragile. Since its formation,
\nthe PDI has been riddled with bickering over leadership.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Rudini said it would be difficult for Megawati to
\nregain her chairmanship now as the government has lent its
\nsupport to Soerjadi.<\/p>\n
\"Megawati should talk over the problem with Soerjadi as it is
\nthe only way to settle the party's internal dispute,\" Rudini said
\non a separate occasion.<\/p>\n
Speaking after a seminar held by the Association of Indonesian
\nMoslem Students, he said the internal dispute could be settled
\nthrough reconciliation.<\/p>\n
Yahya Muhaimin told the Post yesterday it would be impossible
\nfor Megawati to regain legitimate party leadership without
\ngovernment recognition.<\/p>\n
He suggested Megawati dialog with Soerjadi to strengthen the
\nPDI's position for next year's general election.<\/p>\n
\"Megawati should understand politics requires willingness to
\naccommodate the aspirations of all elements in a society,\" he
\nsaid. (imn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/megawati-told-to-be-patient-and-tactical-1447893297",
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