Megawati's vote directives hailed<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government welcomed yesterday a statement by
\nousted leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri that she and her supporters will not take part in
\nthe election campaign.<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security
\nSoesilo Soedarman said after a ministerial meeting on security
\naffairs that the government \"has no prejudice about Megawati's
\nstatement\", issued Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\"We must take a positive way of thinking, although she
\n(Megawati) may have a hidden interest with her statement,\"
\nSoesilo said. He did not elaborate.<\/p>\n
Minister of Defense Edi Sudrajat, who attended the meeting,
\npraised Megawati for helping the government set up \"a conducive
\nclimate for the nation's preparations for the election\".<\/p>\n
\"Political figures are obliged to make statements which soothe
\npeople's temper,\" Edi said.<\/p>\n
Megawati asked her supporters in a directive obtained by The
\nJakarta Post Wednesday not to take part in the election campaign
\non behalf of the PDI, but work together to make the election
\ndemocratic and constitutional.<\/p>\n
She said the PDI under her leadership is keen to avoid
\nviolence caused by provocation by certain people, which could in
\nturn be used to discredit PDI members and supporters.<\/p>\n
The nationwide election campaign kicks off Sunday and will
\nwind up on May 23. The PDI, Golkar and the United Development
\nParty (PPP) will contest the May 29 election.<\/p>\n
Security authorities have expressed concern over potential
\ndisturbances incited by Megawati supporters during the election
\ncampaign, following a massive rally they staged at the House of
\nRepresentatives two weeks ago.<\/p>\n
Armed Forces Chief of Sociopolitical Affairs Lt. Gen. Syarwan
\nHamid has guaranteed protection of Soerjadi's campaigns. But
\nSoesilo said the government would not render exclusive security
\nmeasures for any political party.<\/p>\n
Megawati, the eldest daughter of Indonesia's founding
\npresident the late Sukarno, reiterated her legitimacy to stand in
\nthe election and labeled the government-backed PDI under Soerjadi
\nillegal and unconstitutional.<\/p>\n
Soerjadi was reinstated as the PDI chairman in place of
\nMegawati after a breakaway congress in Medan, North Sumatra last
\nyear.<\/p>\n
The government turned down Megawati's list of legislature
\ncandidates in September and, instead, accepted that of Soerjadi
\nwhich excluded Megawati and her loyalists.<\/p>\n
Soerjadi<\/p>\n
Soerjadi played down Megawati's directive, saying his
\nleadership does not care about what she and her supporters would
\ndo in days ahead of the election.<\/p>\n
\"I think it's not necessary for us to take their statement
\nseriously, because we have never thought of them as having the
\nright to stand in the election,\" Soerjadi said.<\/p>\n
\"It's all up to them whether they will exercise their rights
\nto vote or not. They can even vote for the PPP or Golkar, and are
\nalso welcome to pledge allegiance to the PDI,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Soerjadi denied he was seeking reconciliation with Megawati
\nand her loyalists in order to boost the party's achievement in
\nthis year's election.<\/p>\n
\"We never rely on individuals but the party members as an
\norganization in our efforts to get as many votes as possible,\"
\nSoerjadi said.<\/p>\n
He admitted the conflict that split the party was a headache.
\n\"But the problems we are facing now are less difficult than those
\nin the 1987 election,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Soerjadi made his election debut as the PDI chairman 10 years
\nago, leading the party to win 40 seats at the House of
\nRepresentatives, 16 seats up from the 1982 election.<\/p>\n
However, his efforts to mobilize support in various regions
\nhave often been marked with opposition from Megawati's
\nsupporters. (imn\/amd)<\/p>\n
Boycott -- Page 2<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/megawatis-vote-directives-hailed-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }