Govt wants Megawati's to move congress site

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)