Conflict-ridden PDI predicts vote rise

BOGOR, West Java (JP): The Indonesian Democratic Party is confident of increasing its vote in the May 29 general election, despite deep-seated internal conflicts and election rules it has branded restrictive.

Government-backed chairman Soerjadi made this prediction during the opening of a two-day leadership meeting here yesterday. However, he admitted the continuing challenges from Megawati Soekarnoputri, whom he ousted in June last year, and her supporters, could affect the party's vote.

"It's difficult for us to say the problem is not serious but we have already set our sights not only on increasing our vote, but our ranking as well," Soerjadi said.

He declined to disclose the exact target, as the rival political groups have done, saying that would distract his cadres' election preparations.

PDI maintained its regular bottom place in the 1992 election, polling only 15 percent of the 97,8 million votes cast. This gave it 56 seats in the House of Representatives, 16 seats more than it earned in 1987.

PDI will contest the general election against the United Development Party (PPP) and the dominant political group Golkar, with 425 seats at the House on offer. Golkar has announced a target of winning more than 70 percent of the vote, while PPP is eying 99 seats.

Yesterday's meeting served as the final stage of the party's preparations for the election, the sixth held under the New Order regime. An estimated 125 million people will go to the polls.

All members of the PDI leadership and advisory boards, as well as the chairmen and secretary-generals of the party's 27 provincial branches are attending the meeting. A course for the party's campaign speakers will follow it.

Tight security was very visible at the House of Representatives-owned Wira Sabha hall, the venue of the meeting, following an overnight demonstration by Megawati supporters against the meeting.

Riot police and military personnel backed by two armored cars stood by at the entrance of the compound. More security officials were posted at T-junctions and intersections leading to the meeting hall.

Soerjadi returned to the party's pinnacle following a government-backed congress in Medan, North Sumatra, last June which ousted then chairwoman Megawati.

No influence

Soerjadi believes the ongoing internal conflict is not influencing the party's masses.

"Our recent trips to the provinces showed that they (the masses) do not think of the change of leadership too much," he said.

According to Soerjadi, Indonesians decide to join a certain political party for emotional, not rational, reasons.

"People's affiliation to a party is a very fundamental step, like choosing a religion. Once they embrace the religion they usually stick to it although it may face problems," he said.

In his speech Soerjadi complained the election rules would effectively reduce the campaign period to only nine days for the party. The government has set April 27 to May 23 as the campaign period, and will apply a zoning scheme which obliges parties to campaign in two distant cities on an island on the same day.

"We have to accept the rules, whether we like them or not. As a consequence, we will not rely on campaign rallies as a means to get votes," he said.

He renewed the party's call for a just and honest general election in the wake of public demands for political openness and participation.

Widespread doubt about the likely honesty of the election is the reason behind the setting up of an independent watchdog, according to Soerjadi.

"We should not worry about the existence of the independent watchdog if we apply the principles (of fighting a just and honest election) consistently," he said.

A group of about 50 senior statesmen, lawyers, journalists, intellectuals and activists, led by senior journalist Goenawan Mohamad, formed the Independent Election Monitoring Committee in Jakarta last March .

The government did not ban the committee but warned it to refrain from interfering in the election. Attorney General Singgih, who chairs the Election Supervision Committee, said the watchdog would have to channel its reports to the official committee through PO Box 6000. (amd)

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