PDI chief now allowed to meet party leaders<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): East Java military authorities gave the green
\nlight yesterday to chief of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI)
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri to meet with local party leaders.<\/p>\n
\"If her (Megawati's) intention is to meet with party members,
\nI have no objection. Why should we ban a meeting,\" East Java
\nmilitary chief Maj. Gen. Imam Utomo said in Surabaya yesterday.<\/p>\n
The general's statement came only a day after the local
\nauthorities forcefully dispersed a gathering of PDI activists in
\nMadiun and refused to issue a permit for one in Kediri citing
\nadministrative reasons.<\/p>\n
Megawati has been banned from meeting her supporters in East
\nJava since she was elected in 1993, despite the government's
\neffort to block her election.<\/p>\n
The East Java PDI chapter has been riddled by a leadership
\nrift, which was deepened recently by the East Java governor
\nBasofi Sudirman's refusal to recognize Megawati's appointment of
\nSutjipto last year.<\/p>\n
The provincial government has openly lent its sympathy to the
\noutgoing PDI chapter chief Latief Pudjosakti, Megawati's critic
\nand Sutjipto's political foe.<\/p>\n
Basofi's strong rejection to allow Megawati to hold
\nconsolidation meetings with local party leaders has earned him
\ncriticism from many quarters.<\/p>\n
Imam was quoted by Antara as saying that Megawati and the
\ngovernor should resolve their differences before she could meet
\nher supporters in the province.<\/p>\n
\"Pak Basofi has so far not replied to her request (for a party
\ngathering). So they should work to solve their differences,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, authorities in Madiun broke up a gathering
\nattended by the party's senior executives from Jakarta and local
\nparty leaders.<\/p>\n
Chief of the regency government's sociopolitical affairs
\ndepartment Sukiyat, who personally came to disperse the
\ngathering, said that the local government did not permit the
\nattendance of the executives from Jakarta.<\/p>\n
In Kediri, the authorities have refused to issue a permit for
\na party conference that will be attended by Megawati, according
\nto Antara.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, in the Central Java town of Salatiga, 30 youth
\nactivists from nine subdistricts threw their support yesterday
\nbehind Megawati's possible run for the presidency in 1998.<\/p>\n
The Salatiga Youths for PDI have sent their petition to the
\nparty's Central Java chapter. Last week, seven PDI branches in
\nthe province urged the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) to
\nnominate Megawati for president.<\/p>\n
Also yesterday, chief of the Surakarta PDI chapter Makyo
\nSumaryo -- a Megawati's supporter -- said the time is not right
\nfor her to enter the presidential race because President Soeharto
\nis still too strong to challenge. (pan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pdi-chief-now-allowed-to-meet-party-leaders-1447893297",
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