Govt wants Megawati's to move congress site

JAKARTA (JP): While the police have yet to issue a permit for a congress planned by the faction of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) loyal to ousted leader Megawati Soekarnoputri, the government has begun to bargain with organizers to move the meeting out of Bali.

The director general of sociopolitical affairs in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Dunidja, said on Friday that the government would help the congress financially if it was held outside Bali, the country's top tourist destination.

"Bali, through tourism, is one of Indonesia's main sources of foreign income," Dunidja said.

"The home affairs ministry has decided to let Mbak Mega continue with her planned congress as long as it's not held in Bali," he said in Surabaya as quoted by Antara.

On Thursday, Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto said the government would need to consider the security and economic aspects of the proposed congress before issuing a permit.

On Friday, National Police chief Lt. Gen. Roesmanhadi said the organizers would have to formally apply for a permit for the congress, which the faction plans to hold from Oct. 8 to Oct. 10.

"The police have received informal notification of the planned congress. Megawati's camp has informed Brig. Gen. Kusuyudono, who is the National Police chief's assistant for intelligence affairs," he said.

"If they (the organizers) go ahead with the congress without securing police approval, they will be sanctioned under Article 510 of the Criminal Code for holding a mass gathering without a permit," he said, adding that the penalty for doing so would be two weeks imprisonment.

The police chief also dismissed the possibility of granting approval if Megawati insisted on using the PDI's name. Roesmanhadi reiterated that the government only recognizes the leadership of Budi Hardjono, who was elected in a congress in Palu, Central Sulawesi, last month to replace Soerjadi as the head of the government-backed faction of the party.

Dunidja said that if Megawati used the same name she would be violating Law No. 3/1985 on political parties, which states that one name can only be used by one party. The government says the PDI's name belongs to Budi's camp.

Regarding financial assistance for Megawati's PDI, Dunidja said the government was committed to helping all political parties contest next May's general election.

"Financial assistance is not limited to the existing three political organizations -- Golkar, the United Development Party (PPP) and the PDI," he said.

Meanwhile, 5,000 Megawati supporters from the PDI's East Java chapter said they would participate in the congress.

"The delegation from the PDI's East Java chapter will leave for Bali on Oct. 6," Sutjipto, the chairman of the East Java chapter loyal to Megawati said, adding that the delegation would consist of 122 officials.

He said that they would renominate Megawati Soekarnoputri for the party's leadership.

In Maluku, 1,000 university students staged a rally in support of Megawati's nomination for the presidency next year. The rally was held in front of the Governor's office in Ambon.

Benhur Watubun, the chairman of the Maluku University Students Council, said they wanted Megawati to be president because she has been a vociferous opponent of corruption, collusion and nepotism among the ruling elite.

In Semarang the deputy chairman of Megawati's PDI, Oetojo, said if the government had not recognized their camp before the special session of the People's Consultative Assembly slated in November, supporters would march to the Assembly. (imn/emf/nur/har)