Drop suit Megawati: Gus Dur

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)