Ever onward, never retreat: Eros

PURWOKERTO, Central Java (JP): Eros Djarot vowed on Monday to continue in the race for the chair of the Indonesian Democratic of Struggle (PDI-P), brushing aside allegations that his determination would divide the party.

Briefing journalists after speaking at a seminar on the party's role in the new Indonesia here, Eros said that he agreed with the idea of maintaining party unity.

"In principle, I agree that party unity must be maintained. But, I am of the opinion that the adhesive for unity must not be the chairperson," he said.

Many have expressed their belief that the incumbent chairperson and current vice president, Megawati Soekarnoputri, is the key figure for party unity, and that her removal from the party's top post would dismember it

Eros said that he was merely offering. "It's not a question of who will lead the party in the future. Anybody can become the leader. If I am trusted to become one, I'm ready," he said.

"I will support anyone who is elected to chair the party, if he or she has the vision to make PDI-P a large and open party," he stressed.

The party should not use its power to betray Megawati, he said, referring to the party clamor in the past.

He said there were now internal conflicts in the party involving individuals and groups. "All of them claim to defend Megawati for their own interests. This has made me dizzy."

"Therefore, keeping going forward in the chairmanship race is a must for me. There is nothing to divide, because as a political party, PDI-P has been broken into pieces. There are now only symbols which have no meaning at all," said Eros, who is also a songwriter and film director.

He described his relationship with Megawati as like a brother and sister, adding that he had called her many times and told her about his willingness to join the chairmanship race. "Should I be silent about that?" he wondered.

He said there would be no problem if Megawati was reelected chairperson.

In the paper he presented at the seminar, Eros said that since the Medan congress in 1996, the PDI-P had been too busy dealing with various problems, something which, apparently, had loosened its grip on its supporters.

"These all happened because there was no clear political course set by the party's leader, besides the its weakness in administrative affairs and organizational performances. The party's human resources and political communication network were also weak," he said. (45/sur)