Govt refuse to recognize Mgawati's PDI faction
Govt refuse to recognize Mgawati's PDI faction
JAKARTA (JP): Even as Megawati Soekarnoputri intensifies
preparations for her congress, the government has made clear that
it is still refusing to recognize her faction of the splintered
Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).
Minister of Home Affairs Syarwan Hamid said here on Friday
that Megawati's faction was not yet a party. He described it as a
mere prospective party, admittedly with strong support, which had
yet to register itself at the Ministry of Home Affairs.
"Don't refer to Megawati's faction of the PDI as a political
party. It is not a party, but a prospective party. We should,
however, acknowledge that it has strong support," he said after
attending a House of Representatives plenary session here on
Friday.
The government only recognizes the PDI faction under Budi
Hardjono. Budi was elected to the faction's chair in a congress
held in Palu, Central Sulawesi, in August. Despite this,
officials have been unable to stem the rising tide of support for
Megawati, as evident by the influx of her supporters to the
island of Bali, where her faction's congress is to be held.
Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto said recently that
Megawati could hold her congress providing she guaranteed
security on the tourist island for its duration.
Megawati has so far ignored the ambiguous stance taken by the
government on the matter. She has reportedly not applied for a
police permit to hold the congress.
Syarwan said on Friday that he hoped the Bali congress would
proceed successfully and safely.
"I am trying to avoid a conflict here. As long as the two
camps (in the party) tow the line ... the government wants the
congress to proceed successfully and safely," he said.
He reiterated that the two camps should not use the same party
name to avoid causing administrative confusion.
The PDI split into two factions after the Soeharto government
engineered a breakaway congress in Medan, North Sumatra, to oust
Megawati from the party's leadership in 1996. Megawati has never
accepted the results of the congress, in which Soerjadi was
elected party chairman in her stead. Soerjadi was replaced by
Budi Hardjono during the Palu congress.
Meanwhile, Sarwa Kabiana, the deputy secretary of the party's
Bali chapter loyal to Megawati, said in the provincial capital
Denpasar on Friday that at least 150 local and foreign
journalists would cover the congress, which is to be held between
Oct. 8 and Oct. 10.
He also said five tribal leaders from Irian Jaya have arrived
in Bali for the congress at Megawati's invitation. (rms)
JAKARTA (JP): Even as Megawati Soekarnoputri intensifies
preparations for her congress, the government has made clear that
it is still refusing to recognize her faction of the splintered
Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).
Minister of Home Affairs Syarwan Hamid said here on Friday
that Megawati's faction was not yet a party. He described it as a
mere prospective party, admittedly with strong support, which had
yet to register itself at the Ministry of Home Affairs.
"Don't refer to Megawati's faction of the PDI as a political
party. It is not a party, but a prospective party. We should,
however, acknowledge that it has strong support," he said after
attending a House of Representatives plenary session here on
Friday.
The government only recognizes the PDI faction under Budi
Hardjono. Budi was elected to the faction's chair in a congress
held in Palu, Central Sulawesi, in August. Despite this,
officials have been unable to stem the rising tide of support for
Megawati, as evident by the influx of her supporters to the
island of Bali, where her faction's congress is to be held.
Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto said recently that
Megawati could hold her congress providing she guaranteed
security on the tourist island for its duration.
Megawati has so far ignored the ambiguous stance taken by the
government on the matter. She has reportedly not applied for a
police permit to hold the congress.
Syarwan said on Friday that he hoped the Bali congress would
proceed successfully and safely.
"I am trying to avoid a conflict here. As long as the two
camps (in the party) tow the line ... the government wants the
congress to proceed successfully and safely," he said.
He reiterated that the two camps should not use the same party
name to avoid causing administrative confusion.
The PDI split into two factions after the Soeharto government
engineered a breakaway congress in Medan, North Sumatra, to oust
Megawati from the party's leadership in 1996. Megawati has never
accepted the results of the congress, in which Soerjadi was
elected party chairman in her stead. Soerjadi was replaced by
Budi Hardjono during the Palu congress.
Meanwhile, Sarwa Kabiana, the deputy secretary of the party's
Bali chapter loyal to Megawati, said in the provincial capital
Denpasar on Friday that at least 150 local and foreign
journalists would cover the congress, which is to be held between
Oct. 8 and Oct. 10.
He also said five tribal leaders from Irian Jaya have arrived
in Bali for the congress at Megawati's invitation. (rms)