Feisal wants free speech rallies banned

JAKARTA (JP): Citing potential insurrection, the military will soon ban the free speech rallies being held in support of the ousted chief of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Armed Forces (ABRI) Commander Gen. Feisal Tanjung said yesterday that the rallies at the PDI headquarters in Jakarta were disrupting public order, and had grown into "unconstitutional" gatherings.

"There have been indications that the rallies have been used by speakers to attack the government," he said, adding that the speakers at the rallies "planned to overthrow the government".

"You can see it from their statements and the contents of banners which hang outside the party's headquarters," he said.

Feisal said the speakers had ignored ethics. "Their speeches did not reflect Indonesian values. The jargon that they used was similar to the terms used by the outlawed Indonesian Communist Party," he said.

The general said that the supporters, who were outraged by the government-backed rebel congress which unseated Megawati, should have channeled their complaints through the House of Representatives rather than taking their criticism to streets or by holding the free speech rallies.

He said the rallies had disturbed the next door office of the United Development Party (PPP), which has lodged a formal complaint against the rallies.

Megawati defended the rallies yesterday, saying that they were a spontaneous response towards the rebel congress in Medan. But she called on her supporters to continue the rallies.

"They are an open and democratic forum for PDI members and supporters to channel their political aspirations," Megawati told a press conference at the party's headquarters yesterday.

She said that cutting off the supporters only political channel would force them back onto the streets.

She denied that her supporters had planned to attack the government in their speeches.

"I really love this country. It has never occurred to me to persuade my supporters to topple the government," she said. Besides, "it would be impossible for me to plan such an action because I'm always watched wherever and whenever I go," she said.

Megawati dismissed Feisal's accusation that her supporters' speeches were unethical, using words resembling the old slogans of the outlawed communist party.

"The ABRI chief should not have hastily slapped a PKI (communist) label on (my) supporters," she said. "An open dialog must be held to find out whether there's ground for that accusation."

The free speech rallies have been held regularly in front of the PDI's headquarters since an agreement between the Jakarta regional military command and Megawati supporters took effect last month. They agreed that the supporters would no longer take to the streets if the military allowed them to hold public meetings at the party's headquarters on Jl. Diponegoro No. 58 in Central Jakarta.

The agreement was made after 8,000 Megawati supporters took part in a street rally on June 20 which ended in a clash with security forces. The clash left 100 people injured on both sides.

The supporters have basically adhered to the agreement, although they have taken to the streets several times to protest. The supporters normally gather at the party's headquarters to sing patriotic songs, listen to speeches, wave placards and unfurl banners critical of the government and the military. (imn)

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