Drop suit Megawati: Gus Dur

JAKARTA (JP): Controversial Moslem leader Abdurrahman Wahid suggested yesterday that deposed leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) Megawati Soekarnoputri withdraw her lawsuit against the government on political grounds.

Abdurrahman, better-known as Gus Dur, said Megawati's lawsuit has developed into a never-ending confrontation that will not do her or the government any good.

"Her court battle fails to function as a corrective measure for the government, as it was originally intended," Abdurrahman told journalists.

Abdurrahman, leader of the 30-million-strong Nahdlatul Ulama and known as Megawati's "ally", claimed he was not under pressure from the government to give advice to her.

Currently, the Central Jakarta District Court is hearing her lawsuit against the minister of home affairs, the Armed Forces chief and the National Police chief for backing a June rebel congress that unseated her.

She has also sued Soerjadi, her political foe who was elected chairman in the disputed congress, for holding the parley. She remains steadfast in her claim that she is the legitimate PDI chief until 1998, when the party will call a mandatory congress to elect its new executive board.

Abdurrahman agreed that she should go ahead with her lawsuit against Soerjadi.

The government has shifted its recognition from Megawati, who was democratically elected in 1993, to Soerjadi.

Abdurrahman said he had consulted with senior journalists and influential figures before publicly announcing the suggestion.

He argued that the confrontation would cause a great loss to the PDI, to Megawati, as well as to the government.

"The long-lasting confrontation will disturb next year's general election and the 1998 general meeting of the People's Consultative Assembly (which is to elect a new president)," he said.

Abdurrahman said he had personally asked Megawati to withdraw the lawsuit against the three government officials.

When asked about Megawati's reaction, Abdurrahman said that she was afraid withdrawing the suit would confuse the people about her stand, but she had not decided anything yet.

Abdurrahman made it clear that his suggestion did not mean that he was beginning to distance himself from Megawati.

"I still recognize Megawati as the legitimate leader of PDI. Soerjadi had stolen her seat," he said. He argued that by withdrawing the lawsuit, Megawati would not lose her supporters' trust.

Armed Forces Chief for Sociopolitical Affairs Lt. Gen. Syarwan Hamid has advised Megawati earlier this week to re-enter formal politics if she wanted to make a comeback.

"If she enters formal politics, she can reemerge with new strength and exert all her political assets in the 1998 party congress," Syarwan said Monday, adding that President Soeharto has, in fact, given the same advice to Megawati.

He called on Megawati, the eldest daughter of the late president Sukarno, to understand that the government could not acknowledge her and Soerjadi at the same time.

"She should not make trouble all the time, like opening a new party headquarters and then suing the government for closing it, and so forth. It's outrageous," he said.

Earlier last week, Megawati reached an out-of-court settlement regarding a lawsuit she filed against Syarwan, whom she charged with slander. Megawati said Syarwan publicly accused her of trying to topple the government. (imn/16)