Megawati told to continue political struggle<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Political observers urged Megawati Soekarnoputri
\nover the weekend to continue her struggle for recognition as
\nleader of the Indonesia Democratic Party (PDI) despite the
\ngovernment's immediate acknowledgment of Budi Hardjono as the
\nofficial PDI chief.<\/p>\n
Senior politician Supeni and political observer Ramlan
\nSurbakti of the Surabaya-based Airlangga University, urged the
\neldest daughter of the late president Sukarno to plow on with her
\npolitical fight.<\/p>\n
\"Megawati should never stop her political struggle. She is not
\nsupposed to change direction, but to continue to carry her PDI
\nbanner along with her struggle,\" Supeni, chairwoman of the
\nIndonesian Nationalist Party (PNI), told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
The government last week stuck to its persistent recognition
\nof the rival PDI board when it accepted Budi's election at a
\ncongress in Palu, Central Sulawesi. He replaced Soerjadi.<\/p>\n
Megawati was ousted by Soerjadi in a government-engineered
\nparty congress in Medan, North Sumatra, in June 1996. However,
\nwith widespread backing, she has continued her struggle,
\nmaintaining that she is the legitimate leader of the party.<\/p>\n
The new government under Habibie, while showing a more relaxed
\nattitude toward many of the Megawati camp's activities, has
\ncontinued its predecessor's policy of only acknowledging the
\nrival camp, now under Budi's leadership.<\/p>\n
Established in 1973, PDI is an amalgamation of five
\nnationalist and Christian parties.<\/p>\n
Supeni said Megawati's camp should not lose its fighting
\nspirit since it still commanded the support of a majority of PDI
\nsupporters and the sympathy of the public.<\/p>\n
\"Should the government prevent her from joining next year's
\ngeneral election, it will likely have to face the people's
\nanger,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Supeni also discouraged Megawati from pinning too much hope on
\nthe suit she has filled against Soerjadi's camp.<\/p>\n
She said the courts could take up to two years to issue a
\nverdict.<\/p>\n
The Supreme Court ruled earlier this month that the Central
\nJakarta District Court should continue hearing Megawati's lawsuit
\nagainst Soerjadi and the committee members of the 1996 party
\ncongress.<\/p>\n
Battle<\/p>\n
Supeni expressed doubt that Budi's leadership could
\nsuccessfully reap any reward for the PDI in the \"real\" political
\nbattle, the coming general election.<\/p>\n
\"Let's see how far Budi Hardjono can go along with his own
\nPDI,\" she remarked.<\/p>\n
\"Can his PDI meet all the requirements stipulated in the new
\nelectoral law, especially, after 13 PDI chapters which supported
\nhim or his predecessor Soerjadi in the past have now turned to
\nMegawati?\" she said.<\/p>\n
Ramlan said Megawati should push forward with her political
\nbattle, irrespective of what the government thinks.<\/p>\n
\"Megawati does not have to worry about obtaining the
\ngovernment's recognition.<\/p>\n
\"The new law on general elections (which has yet to be
\nintroduced) does not require party leaders to obtain the
\ngovernment's recognition to join next year's election,\" Ramlan, a
\nmember of the government-initiated team responsible for preparing
\na draft for the new electoral law, told the Post.<\/p>\n
He agreed with Supeni that Megawati should also not pause to
\nwait for the results of her legal battle. (imn)<\/p>",
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