Golkar, PPP luring displaced members of PDI: Megawati
Golkar, PPP luring displaced members of PDI: Megawati
JAKARTA (JP): The ousted chief of the Indonesian Democratic
Party (PDI), Megawati Soekarnoputri, accused Golkar and the
United Development Party (PPP) yesterday of racing to attract
displaced PDI members before the May 29 general election.
She said she had proof that the dominant Golkar and the
Moslem-based PPP were trying to woo PDI supporters displaced by a
leadership split ravaging the party.
"I have evidence of the two political contestants' campaign to
attract PDI members," she said after a ceremony, marking the end
of commemorations for the PDI's 24th anniversary, at her home in
Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta.
"I have received reports from PDI chapters and branches
nationwide that Golkar and PPP have persuaded members to vote for
them," Megawati said.
She said she had no plan to stop the two political
organizations luring her supporters. "Golkar and PPP are free to
try to influence PDI members to vote for them. It's up to PDI
members to decide," she said.
Megawati was ousted in a government-backed congress in the
North Sumatra capital of Medan last June. The congress then
elected Soerjadi as PDI's chairman.
Since then, the PDI has been divided into two camps, one
supporting Soerjadi and the other supporting Megawati. But many
PDI supporters were left confused and detached by the rift.
Megawati has repeatedly said the congress was illegal and that
she remains the lawful PDI leader.
PDI was born in 1973 out of a merger of five former
nationalist and Christian political parties -- the Indonesian
Nationalist Party, the Murba Party, the Independent Vanguard
Party, the Indonesian Catholic Party and the Christian Party.
On her loyalists' support, Megawati said they wanted her to
regain leadership of the PDI.
"My supporters want the government to reinstate my political
rights as the PDI leader," she said.
Her deputies Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno, I Gusti Ngurah Sara and
Mangara Siahaan, secretary-general Alexander Litaay, deputy
secretary-general Haryanto Taslam and legislators M. Taufiq
Kiemas, Tarto Sudiro, Sukowaluyo Mintorahardjo, S.G.B.
Tampubolon, S. Djatikoesoemo and Sutjipto attended the ceremony.
Several chairmen of PDI chapters and branches and about 100
Megawati supporters were also on hand.
Megawati said her faction's political stand on the May 29
election would be announced soon.
But she questioned the meaning of the general election.
"For me and my supporters, our participation in the general
election is only to fulfill our duty as citizens, namely to cast
our votes," she said.
"But what about our rights to be elected in the elections?"
she asked.
Observer
Several people have alleged that the preliminary stages of the
general election have been marred by cheating, especially by the
dominant Golkar. Many have suggested that independent observers
should follow the poll.
A proponent of this idea is legal expert Abdul Hakim Garuda
Nusantara, who is also chairman of the Institute for Policy
Research and Advocacy. He said in a discussion here yesterday
that observers would help the election committees monitor and
identify complaints during the election.
"Local observers can effectively identify the problems and
forward the results to the election committees," he said.
Abdul said complaints might include unfairness and violations
by the government apparatus regarding the use of party colors and
electronic media for campaign exposure.
He said that local observers' credibility and neutrality could
help improve the election's quality, while foreign observers
could provide comparative views on elections.
Abdul said observers played an important role in informing
voters of their rights in elections in neighboring Asian
countries, including the Philippines and Bangladesh.
He said quality general elections were a long-term, on-going
goal. (imn/01)