Support for Megawati 'against' establishment<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The call for Megawati Soekarnoputri, the
\nchairwoman of the minority Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), to
\nrun for president in 1998 is a symbol of her support in Central
\nJava and a sign of growing rejection of the establishment, a
\npolitical observer says.<\/p>\n
Afan Ghaffar of Yogyakarta's Gadjah Mada University said
\nyesterday that the popularity of Megawati is also an
\n\"interesting\" reflection of the growth of civil society in
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
\"It symbolizes resistance against the establishment. There's
\nnothing more beyond that,\" Afan said in a telephone interview
\nwith The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Leaders of seven PDI branches in Central Java this week issued
\na statement calling on Megawati, who is also the daughter of
\nformer president Sukarno, to run for the upcoming presidential
\nelection.<\/p>\n
The People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) will elect a new
\npresident in 1988. The 74-year-old Soeharto will conclude his
\nsixth term of office in two years.<\/p>\n
The nomination of Megawati has taken many observers by
\nsurprise. If Megawati steps into the ring, she will be the first
\nto challenge President Soeharto, whose reelection is practically
\na given if he decides to run.<\/p>\n
Leaders of the party's branch offices said that Megawati, who
\nwas elected PDI chief by a popular vote in 1993 despite the
\ngovernment's attempt to block her, has the qualifications that a
\nfuture Indonesian president should have, such as modesty, honesty
\nand integrity.<\/p>\n
Afan pointed out that everyone, including PDI members, know
\nvery well that Megawati's chances to win the election are \"almost
\nzero.\"<\/p>\n
\"But it (the nomination) is all right. It shows that people
\nare no longer afraid to spell out what they believe in,\" he said.<\/p>\n
According to Afan, who is also a lecturer at the Islamic
\nUniversity of Yogyakarta, Megawati has no qualifications for
\npresidency.<\/p>\n
\"People sympathize with her because her leadership is
\nundermined everywhere,\" he said, referring to formation of a
\nrival board by her political foe Yusuf Merukh and the East Java
\ngovernment's rejection of PDI chapter chief Sutjipto, whom she
\nappointed last year.<\/p>\n
In Central Java, Afan said, the nationalist-Christian alliance
\nwill have a hard time maintaining its vote in the 1997 elections
\nbecause the provincial government is preparing to ensure a ruling
\nGolkar party victory.<\/p>\n
\"The governor's campaign to have people paint everything
\nyellow (the color of Golkar) shows that the government is
\nresolute in winning the election at any cost and by all means,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Afan also predicted that Megawati's foes will intensify their
\nfight to dethrone her prior to the 1997 elections. \"And this
\ncould badly affect the PDI's performance,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Separately, legislator Aberson Marle Sihaloho, known as one of
\nMegawati's ardent supporters, said he expects more PDI branches
\nin other provinces to follow suit.<\/p>\n
\"Their proposal was genuine, free from any political
\nengineering,\" the outspoken legislator from the Central Java
\nconstituency said.<\/p>\n
He said her nomination by the seven party branches was in line
\nwith her principle that every leader should be elected directly
\nby the people, not by organizations through some kind of
\nmanipulation.<\/p>\n
Aberson said the PDI will work to change the presidential
\nelectoral system in the future to \"one person, one vote\" as the
\nconstitution requires.<\/p>\n
Currently, the president is elected by consensus of the
\nvarious factions in the MPR. (pan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/support-for-megawati-against-establishment-1447893297",
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