Ceremony held for PDI smooth congress
DENPASAR (JP): A religious service called Piodalan is being held on Tuesday morning by the organizers of the congress to be held by the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) faction loyal to Megawati Soekarnoputri, so that the event can proceed smoothly.
Sarwa Kabiyana from the organizing committee told The Jakarta Post that the service is to take place in the temple on Jl. Banteng, next door to the headquarters of the Bali chapter of the party which supports Megawati.
Sarwa said that 26 ambassadors and guests from 22 friendly countries would attend the congress, but was unable to confirm if former Philippines president Corazon Aquino and India's Sonia Gandhi would be among them.
"We have not had confirmation. But if they do decide to come, we are all ready to welcome them," he said.
Meanwhile, Bali has been turned into an ocean of red, the party's chosen color. Banners, flags and posters with the party's bull head symbol and pictures of Megawati have been hung from almost every street corner. All ferries connecting Bali with Java through the ports of Ketapang and Gilimanuk ports were similarly decked out.
Rumors have been circulating that drivers of public transport vehicles and gas station owners, fearful of unrest, will not operate while the congress is being held between Oct. 8 and Oct. 10. The rumors have hit Denpasar and the regencies of Gianyar, Badung and Tabanan.
However, Udayana Regional Military Commander Maj. Gen. Adam Damiri dismissed these fears and urged the general public to go about their business as usual.
"If they stop operating, then it would invite questions (about security)," he said. "Furthermore, it would cause difficulties for visitors," Adam added.
He called on the public not to be afraid. "We will try to provide security reinforcements in order to prevent unrest," he said.
A police force of around 2,000 will be deployed to safeguard the gathering, and Adam had earlier said that he would back them up with 1,400 military troops. The Megawati camp is itself deploying 1,000 civilian security guards known as Pecalang.
"Traders, gas station owners and other people who provide public services, please carry on as usual," Adam pleaded.
Adam also confirmed that tourist activities so far appeared not to have been affected by preparations for the congress.
"The number of tourists coming here has not dropped because the situation has remained normal and secure," he said.
Adam's stance was a clear departure from the government's earlier line, which sought to dissuade Megawati from holding her congress in Bali -- her traditional stronghold -- for fear of inciting unrest and harming the lucrative tourist industry on the island. Meanwhile, it was reported from Yogyakarta that about 2,000 Megawati supporters have left for Bali.
Soerasmo, the secretary to the Yogyakarta PDI chapter, said that the supporters -- including 18 official delegates, a 1,000- member task force and three observers -- had paid their own way.
He said that during the congress the delegates would fight to defend Megawati's position as party leader and nominate her as a presidential candidate in the next general election.
Ida Bagus Putu Wesnawa, the chairman of the PDI's Bali chapter, said that delegations from eight provinces, including Irian Jaya, Maluku and East Timor, have arrived in Denpasar. (43/44/rms)