PDI ready for elections, targets young people<\/p>\n
SEMARANG (JP): Despite some internal conflicts, the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party (PDI) is ready to compete in the 1997 general
\nelections, its chairwoman stated over the weekend.<\/p>\n
Megawati Soekarnoputri said in a rally attended by thousands
\nof PDI supporters here on Friday that one of the targets will be
\nthe 20 million first-time voters. Unfortunately, she said, these
\nyoung people are still fearful of expressing their political
\naspirations.<\/p>\n
\"We can see that the youths are afraid to make a political
\nchoice,\" said the eldest daughter of the first president Sukarno.
\n\"This is a condition that has to be handled.\"<\/p>\n
\"PDI has to work very quickly (to approach the
\nyouths)...because the other (political) groupings are bigger,
\nhave more facilities and funds,\" she said.<\/p>\n
\"The party, however, is ready, both physically and mentally.\"<\/p>\n
During the occasion, Megawati also called on the East Java
\nadministration to give her full authority to solve leadership
\nconflicts in the party's branch there.<\/p>\n
Megawati said that the conflicts which occurred in PDI's South
\nSumatra and South Sulawesi branches were resolved quickly because
\nthe provincial administrations left matters to the party's
\ncentral executive board.<\/p>\n
\"The East Java administration should do the same,\" said
\nMegawati to thousands of PDI supporters.<\/p>\n
\"The conflict could have been resolved earlier if only all
\nparties had been willing to respect the internal rules of
\norganizations and had not forced their will on any organization.<\/p>\n
\"The party executive board has done its best, but whether or
\nnot the effort succeeds will depend on the good will of the East
\nJava provincial administration,\" she said.<\/p>\n
The PDI's East Java branch currently has two people claiming
\nto be the rightful chairman. Soetjipto has the backing of the
\ncentral executive board, while Latief Pudjosakti reportedly has
\nthe support of both the majority of PDI's local units and the
\nadministration.<\/p>\n
East Java Governor Basofi Soedirman has twice attempted to
\nbring the two to terms of reconciliation, though he failed on
\nboth occasions. However, Megawati and a number of observers
\nbelieve that an end could have been put to the conflict if Basofi
\nhad not supported Latief.<\/p>\n
A number of difficulties, such as government bans on PDI
\nmeetings, experienced by Megawati and other party executives have
\nbeen regarded of proof of the administration's meddling in
\ninternal party affairs.<\/p>\n
In the meantime, the PDI is facing the deadline, set for
\ntoday, to establish the full lineup of its East Java regional
\ncommittee for general elections. Committee chairman Basofi
\nSoedirman has hinted that, due to the conflicts, he might have to
\nexclude PDI representatives from the body.<\/p>\n
Megawati called on the administration \"to allow\" the party
\nbranch to consolidate.<\/p>\n
\"If there hadn't been any meddling we would have been ready to
\nmeet the deadline,\" she said. (har\/swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pdi-ready-for-elections-targets-young-people-1447893297",
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