Feisal wants free speech rallies banned

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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