Megawati urges her party to get active<\/p>\n
SEMARANG (JP): The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
\n(PDI Perjuangan) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri, asserted on
\nMonday the need for the party to play a bigger role in coping
\nwith the nation's present challenges.<\/p>\n
\"PDI Perjuangan has both a moral and political obligation to
\ncome up with a plan for the implementation of regional autonomy,
\nfor resolving the conflicts in numerous regions and for dealing
\nwith escalating disharmony between the central government and
\nseveral local administrations,\" she said in her opening address
\nto participants at the party's first congress here.<\/p>\n
As the party that won the most votes in the latest general
\nelection in 1999, PDI Perjuangan should stay close to the people
\nand be part of finding solutions instead of being the source of
\nconflict, Megawati said.<\/p>\n
\"We should develop into a modern party without losing the old
\nspirit that has always enabled us to sympathize with the needs
\nand aspirations of average citizens.\"<\/p>\n
The message came after her criticism of party executives, whom
\nshe called representatives of old-fashioned behavior and
\narrogance.<\/p>\n
Megawati, who is also the vice president, reiterated on Monday
\nthat it was imperative for the party to prove that it belonged to
\nthe people of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"This point of view will prevent oligarchic actions being
\ncommitted by party functionaries,\" she said.<\/p>\n
She also called on the party to take initiatives in seeking
\nsolutions to various human rights abuses, ineffective law
\nenforcement and gender issues.<\/p>\n
Megawati then slammed money politics practices involving the
\nparty's legislators in the recent elections of governors, mayors
\nand regents in a number of regions.<\/p>\n
\"Such cases are a humiliation for the party,\" she stated.<\/p>\n
The party's central executive board has suspended 16
\nlegislators for allegedly taking bribes in the mayoral election
\nof Medan in North Sumatra.<\/p>\n
In his opening speech, President Abdurrahman Wahid expressed
\nhis concern over alleged money politics, for it tarnished the
\nnation's attempt to uphold democracy.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman said PDI Perjuangan and the party he found, the
\nNational Awakening Party, should fight against these illicit
\npractices and hope that Golkar Party chairman Akbar Tandjung --
\nwho also attended the ceremony -- and his party would follow
\nsuit.<\/p>\n
In her call to the nation, Megawati, daughter of founding
\npresident Sukarno, said Indonesian people are not yet prepared to
\nsupport democratic ideas because the current political system
\nfails to give a party that won the popular vote a chance to
\nassume power.<\/p>\n
\"This means we are not yet ready to recognize another party's
\nvictory and accept our defeat in the elections,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Minor incidents marred the opening ceremony when the party's
\ndelegations from Irian Jaya and East Java tried to force their
\nway into the venue.<\/p>\n
The party's cadres were not alone. Amien Rais, the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR) speaker and chairman of the National
\nMandate Party (PAN), his PAN deputy A.M. Fatwa, Eros Djarot and
\nhis fellow PDI Perjuangan member Jakob Tobing, were barred from
\nentering the hall because of extra tight security.<\/p>\n
Dozens of security guards complained to the congress'
\norganizers for their poor organization of the event. They claimed
\nthey were not given accommodation, food or transportation.<\/p>\n
The ceremony in general proceeded smoothly. A dance
\nperformance by Bagong Kussudiardjo showcased PDI Perjuangan's
\nhistory, while an orchestra from North Sulawesi played a number
\nof songs to entertain the congress participants.<\/p>\n
Thousands of party supporters watched the opening ceremony
\nthrough the glass wall of the large hall.<\/p>\n
Also present were First Lady Sinta Nuriyah, Megawati's husband
\nTaufik Kiemas and some Cabinet ministers and foreign diplomats.
\n(rms\/har\/swa)<\/p>",
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