Observers gloomy about Megawati's case against govt<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Political observer Marsilam Simanjuntak says
\nhe's pessimistic about ousted Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI)
\nleader Megawati Soekarnoputri's chances if she presses ahead with
\nher plan to sue the government for endorsing a rival camp.<\/p>\n
\"She's facing the undefeatable power of the state,\"
\nSimanjuntak told The Jakarta Post here on Saturday. \"Indonesian
\nlaw is merely a tool for the state and the government.\"<\/p>\n
\"Her lawsuits will not yield any significant result for her
\ncampaign,\" he predicted.<\/p>\n
Megawati's lawyers have earlier stated that the embattled
\nparty chief would sue Armed Forces Commander Gen. Feisal Tanjung,
\nMinister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M. and National Police
\nChief Lt. Gen. Dibyo Widodo for endorsing the recent rebel
\ncongress in Medan, North Sumatra, which resulted in the election
\nof Soerjadi as rival chairman.<\/p>\n
The three officials above have stated their readiness to meet
\nMegawati in court.<\/p>\n
\"Megawati and her supporters don't have enough power to deal
\nwith the whole state's power,\" Simanjuntak said, citing the
\nreadiness of the three officials as an ominous sign.<\/p>\n
Simanjuntak said he believed that in the deepening rift within
\nthe minority party, both Megawati and Soerjadi were actually only
\nvictims of a greater political scheme. He said the real
\ncombatants are the state and the people.<\/p>\n
\"The people are the grassroots supporters of Megawati,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Separately, chairman of the Union of the Indonesian Catholic
\nStudents (PMKRI) Antonius Donny criticized the government for its
\ninterference in the PDI's internal rift.<\/p>\n
\"Let the PDI settle its own internal problems, without outside
\nparties meddling,\" Antonius said in a statement.<\/p>\n
A similar call was made by political observer Fachry Ali from
\nthe Jakarta-based LP3ES research center who said that only
\n\"reconciliation\" could solve the rift in the party.<\/p>\n
\"If only Megawati and Soerjadi, who both claim to be the
\nlegitimate leaders, would sit down together and reconcile, the
\nproblems of the PDI would be solved easily,\" he was quoted by
\nAntara as saying in Medan on Saturday.<\/p>\n
\"Megawati needs to consider this option if she wants to
\nprotect the party's unity,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said that the reconciliation should result in a central
\nexecutive board which includes Megawati. \"She has the charisma of
\nher father, the late Bung Karno, and she has great support from
\nthe grassroots. Soerjadi is supported by many party executives,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Megawati is the eldest daughter of Indonesia's first president
\nSukarno. (16\/swe)<\/p>",
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