ABRI undecided over Megawati's congress permit
JAKARTA (JP): The government was still considering whether to grant a permit for the ousted leader of the splintered Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), Megawati Soekarnoputri, to hold a party congress in Bali next month.
A cautious Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces (ABRI) Commander Gen. Wiranto said on Thursday that the government would need to consider the security and economic aspects of the proposed congress.
"All activities connected to our efforts to increase the state's foreign income cannot be separated from security aspects," he told reporters after a monthly ministerial meeting on political and security affairs.
"And Bali is one of our main sources of foreign income through tourism," he said.
National Police information officer Lt. Col. Saleh Saaf confirmed on Thursday that the police had yet to receive a request or letter of notification from Megawati pertaining to the planned congress.
"I've checked with all related units at the National Police Headquarters. None have received an application or a letter of notification," he told The Jakarta Post.
Megawati's camp recently announced its plan to hold a congress in Bali on Oct. 8 to Oct. 10. The government only recognizes her rival faction in the party, which in August elected Budi Hardjono to its chair in place of Soerjadi. The rival faction's congress was held in Palu, Central Sulawesi.
Despite uncertainty over whether the congress would go ahead, Megawati's supporters have rushed to express their readiness to attend.
In the Central Java town of Purwokerto, loyalists confirmed on Thursday that a complete delegation of the Central Java chapter loyal to Megawati would attend the congress. They chapter are currently preparing an agenda for the meeting.
"We are united and ready to make the congress in Bali a success. No matter what happens," Hadi Wasikun, the deputy chairman of the chapter told reporters in Purbalingga, Central Java.
Separately, hundreds of Megawati supporters from the Central Java coastal town of Cilacap said they would ride to the congress in Denpasar on a convoy of motorbikes.
"The plan was made by the members themselves. We, the executive board, only gave it out seal of approval," said Sugiharjo, the chairman of the Cilacap branch loyal to Megawati.
He said that 200 PDI cadres had applied to join the convoy.
In the West Java capital of Bandung, thousands of Megawati supporters also said they would attend the congress.
"A total of 10,320 Megawati supporters here have registered to participate in the congress," Muchtar Budiana, the chairman of Megawati's West Java chapter said as quoted by Antara
"Although their number is large, I can guarantee that there won't be any trouble during their trip there and back," he said.
He said the first wave of PDI supporters would leave in buses and personal vehicles on Oct. 2, while the second wave would depart on Oct. 5. (imn/emf/45)