Soerjadi seeks military's help to take over HQ<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Soerjadi, the government-backed leader of the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party (PDI), formally asked the Armed
\nForces (ABRI) to help retake the party's headquarters from
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri, leader of the rival PDI board.<\/p>\n
\"The PDI central executive board this morning asked for ABRI's
\nhelp in retaking the headquarters from Megawati's supporters,\"
\nABRI Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung told reporters yesterday before
\nattending a cabinet meeting at Bina Graha presidential office.<\/p>\n
Feisal, who met Soerjadi earlier yesterday morning, did not
\nsay if the military would send troops to expel Megawati
\nsupporters from the Jl. Diponegoro headquarters in Central
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
ABRI would wait for further developments, he said, stressing
\nagain that the row over the Diponegoro headquarters was
\nessentially Soerjadi's board's problem.<\/p>\n
Since replacing Megawati as party chairman at a rebel PDI
\ncongress in Medan on June 22, Soerjadi and his board have been
\nworking from his house in Jl. Denpasar.<\/p>\n
Megawati's supporters have vowed to defend the headquarters
\nwith an around-the-clock vigil. The number of supporters has
\ndwindled from thousands to a few hundred. Many of these
\nsupporters are armed with rattan sticks.<\/p>\n
Soerjadi told a news conference yesterday that he had filed
\ncomplaints with the ABRI chief about intimidation against some
\nboard members in the last two weeks.<\/p>\n
Intimidation included anonymous phone calls threatening injury
\nor murder. Some board members' houses were even pelted with
\nstones, he said. And some of the PDI's regional leaders have
\nsuffered similar harassment.<\/p>\n
All but two of Soerjadi's 39 member board met the military's
\ntop brass at ABRI's headquarters in Jl. Merdeka Barat yesterday.
\nThe two missing board members have remained loyal to Megawati by
\nrefusing to join Soerjadi's board.<\/p>\n
Also at the meeting were Army Chief of Staff Gen. Hartono, Air
\nForce Chief of Staff Vice Marshall Sutria Tubagus, Navy Chief of
\nStaff Vice Admiral Arief Kushariyadi, National Police Chief Lt.
\nGen. Dibyo Widodo and ABRI Chief of General Affairs Lt. Gen.
\nSoeyono.<\/p>\n
Soerjadi, who met with Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie
\nS.M. on Tuesday, said he had written to President Soeharto
\nrequesting an audience for him and his board: \"We mailed the
\nletter yesterday and hope to receive an answer soon.\"<\/p>\n
It is customary for leaders of political and mass
\norganizations to visit the President after their election or
\nappointment.<\/p>\n
Soerjadi said he and other board members plan to travel around
\nthe country to meet party members: \"We will disseminate the
\nresults of the congress and consolidate the organization.\"<\/p>\n
Yogie on Tuesday said the National Elections Institute would
\nonly recognize Soerjadi and his board for the 1997 general
\nelection, thereby excluding Megawati and her board from the poll.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, hundreds of PDI members from Jakarta branches
\nprotested outside the Jakarta provincial legislative council
\nyesterday, denouncing the PDI legislators who support Soerjadi.<\/p>\n
The protesters said in a petition that they reject the results
\nof the congress which they call unconstitutional.<\/p>\n
They also asked the government not to interfere with the
\nparty's internal problems.<\/p>\n
Soemaryono, chairman of the PDI's Pademangan sub-district
\noffice, said some of the protesters had been offered up to Rp 5
\nmillion for canceling the demonstration and switching sides to
\nsupport Soerjadi.<\/p>\n
A delegation of PDI members was received by some of the
\ncouncil's Commission A members, led by Fatommy Ansaari. The
\ncommission deals with administrative affairs. (imn\/yns)<\/p>\n
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