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)