Brother denies Taufik's powerful role in congress

SEMARANG (JP): A younger brother of Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri's husband Taufik Kiemas denied allegations on Thursday that Taufik had maneuvered behind the scenes to campaign for his wife's reelection as chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan).

Two leading party figures, Dimyati Hartono and Eros Djarot, are going ahead with their plans to contest the election for party chief, which will be held toward the end of party congress.

Their plans have met strong opposition, including the use of intimidation, and many have pointed their fingers at Taufik as the instigator.

"Taufik is not involved in any political engineering or a plot to block Dimyati and Eros' bids," Santayana told The Jakarta Post.

Taufik has not been involved in organizing the congress or the campaign to reelect Megawati, Santayana pointed out.

"I know Megawati. As party chairwoman, Vice President and stateswoman she would never let anyone, not even Taufik, tarnish the party's image or her leadership of the party," he said.

"It's only natural that Taufik, as her husband and a party cadre, would give advice when needed. Megawati is already surrounded by noted politicians and intellectuals," he said.

Santayana said his membership and Taufik's in the party and in legislative bodies had nothing to do with Megawati's position in the party.

"Our father and grandfather were loyal followers of founding president Sukarno's movement in South Sumatra in the past."

Santayana, who is a member of the Jakarta legislative council, said both Dimyati and Eros were free to contest the election as long as they had the approval of the congress.

Given the strong support she enjoys, Megawati's reelection has been considered a foregone conclusion even before the congress began.

But Dimyati has urged her to drop out of the race in order to concentrate more on her state duties.

Neither Eros nor Dimyati had changed their plans to contest the election by Thursday night, although the majority of delegates have openly expressed support for Megawati.

Santayana said PDI Perjuangan still needed Megawati's leadership to contest the next general election and presidential election in 2004.

"So, if she is reelected, it will not be due to political engineering, intimidation or terror tactics. It will be because she is needed by the people whose aspirations are channeled by delegates in this congress," he said.

Santayana proposed that the congress appoint a five-member committee, which would include Megawati, to form the party's new central executive board.

Some participants have proposed the appointment of Megawati to the committee and suggested she be allowed to pick her own advisers to deliberate on the lineup of the new board.

Santayana said the congress should formulate the party's political platform and programs, which should focus on political education. (rms)