ABRI awaits govt ruling on Megawati

ABRI awaits govt ruling on Megawati

JAKARTA (JP): The Armed Forces (ABRI) is backing off from the
Indonesian Democratic Party's (PDI) leadership row, pledging to
support whatever stance the government takes on the dispute.

ABRI, which in the past had failed to refrain from jumping
into the fray, now refuses to indicate who they recognize as the
party's legitimate leader.

Armed Forces Chief of Sociopolitical Affairs Lt. Gen. Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono made it clear yesterday that ABRI would not
"pursue its own interests" in the matter.

"It would be inappropriate for ABRI to unilaterally grant
legitimacy to a certain political power," he said after
addressing students attending a lecture at the National
Resilience Institute (Lemhanas). "It would be more suitable for
the government (to decide whether) to recognize Megawati
Soekarnoputri."

If President B.J. Habibie's administration decides to
recognize the ousted chairwoman, "ABRI will play an integral part
in the whole process", he added.

Susilo suggested, however, that the government's decision over
the matter should be acceptable to all and "future-oriented".

Megawati was ousted as chairwoman of the party by Soerjadi in
a government-backed congress in 1996.

She and her supporters have insisted that they are the party's
true leaders and have filed dozens of lawsuits challenging the
legality of the congress and Soerjadi's validity.

The Supreme Court is under pressure to announce a decision
soon on a lawsuit filed by Megawati against Soerjadi and several
cabinet members, including current Minister of Home Affairs
Syarwan Hamid. It will decide whether she has grounds to proceed
with her suit, filed with the Central Jakarta District Court two
years ago.

Susilo dismissed speculation that ABRI Headquarters was
involved in granting Megawati's faction "permission" to hold a
three-day congress last week, saying it was completely the
government's decision.

Organized by Megawati's loyalists, the congress ended
peacefully without any police effort to disband it, unlike
previous instances.

Yesterday in Yogyakarta, Minister of Justice Muladi
acknowledged that the Supreme Court was facing risks in its
handling of the PDI affair.

"It's a test for the judiciary... a test for its integrity."
he was quoted by Antara as saying. "A good verdict would help
legal reform."

"Let's just wait for the decision, and hope that there won't
be any trouble (following the verdict)," he said.

The chairman of the Supreme Advisory Council, A.A. Baramuli,
suggested PDI be allowed to solve its dispute internally.

He also said PDI congresses -- by either camp -- should not be
held until after a Supreme Court verdict.

Soerjadi's camp has announced plans to hold a congress in
Palu, Central Sulawesi, from Aug. 26 to Aug. 30. Congress
organizers claim they have invited President B.J. Habibie to open
the forum.

Soerjadi's followers have created a local congress committee
here which will officially be installed this Friday, Antara
reported yesterday.

Local committee chairman, Karto Dg. Nappa, said 259 out of 312
party branches had responded to the invitation, promising to
attend the five-day congress.

Megawati's camp has decided to hold another congress in
Yogyakarta or Bali in October. (imn)