Appeal to Megawati

Swadesi of July 12-18, 1996 edition published an report in which Siswono Yudohusodo suggested Megawati accept the results of the recent congress of the PDI in Medan, North Sumatra. In his interview with the Swadesi reporter, Siswono pointed out that in 1993, Soerjadi, who was unanimously elected Chairman of the party in an election that was later nullified, accepted his fate with equanimity, kept calm and did not make any attempt to provoke the masses. Siswono also said that he felt for Megawati.

Siswono hoped that Megawati would do the same thing and accept her failure without any ill feeling. This makes me wonder, how can a minister consider the Medan congress legal and at the same time feel for Megawati? Isn't that a contradiction? Can't he speak the truth?

THOMAS M.

Jakarta