Court rejects Megawati loyalists' suit

SEMARANG (JP): The district court rejected yesterday a law suit filed by loyalists of the deposed leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) Megawati Soekarnoputri against their political foes.

Megawati's supporters accused their rivals of attending a government-blessed rebel congress in Medan which deposed her and elected Soerjadi.

Presiding judge Mardjijo said that the court had no authority to try an internal dispute such as the one that riddles the minority party.

He recommended that the disputing party leaders resolve their problems amicably "for the good of the party".

Standing accused were Soemarjo and Danang Suwito, respectively chiefs of the Central Java and Semarang chapters of the PDI. He led a delegation to the rebel congress in Medan last June.

The lawsuit is part of Megawati loyalists' bid to sue Soerjadi's supporters across the country on charges of betraying commitment to her legal leadership.

Megawati had her lawsuit rejected by the Central Jakarta in October against the government for backing the congress and Soerjadi for organizing the rebel congress. The court said it had no authority to try the "internal dispute".

Samekto, the lawyer representing Megawati loyalists in Semarang, said he would appeal.

"Why should the court have conducted so many hearings if it would only reject our suit? We will definitely appeal," Samekto said.

Haryanto Taslam, a senior PDI official loyal to Megawati said he personally could accept the court's decision.

The lawsuit, he said, is essentially to show the public whether the court of justice is truly independent from the bureaucracy's influence. (har/pan)