'I'm pretty enough for TV': Megawati

'I'm pretty enough for TV': Megawati

JAKARTA (JP): Megawati Soekarnoputri, chairperson of the
Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), says she longs for the day
when she can appear more regularly on television as does Harmoko,
chairman of the ruling Golkar.

"I envy Pak Harmoko. I feel that I'm pretty enough to appear
on television," Megawati was quoted by the Antara news agency as
saying yesterday.

State-controlled TVRI has been broadcasting Harmoko's every
move almost nightly as he stomps across the nation to meet with
cadres. Harmoko's other official capacity as minister of
information has him wielding control over TVRI.

PDI and the other minority party, the United Development
Party, have complained in the past about the lack of coverage
given by TVRI to their own activities compared to that given to
Golkar.

"If I could have just one day (on television), with the rest
of the week allotted to Harmoko, I'd be content," Megawati said
during a meeting with party supporters in Serang, West Java,
yesterday.

"But we're not going to beg," she said, adding that she hoped
her remarks would reach Harmoko, according to Antara.

Megawati said many PDI supporters have been questioning her
about her rare appearance on television and some of them have
even stated that they "missed" her a lot. "They long to see my
face on television or in newspapers."

The PDI chief has been traveling across various regencies in
West Java to install leaders of the PDI branches.

Television is likely to become the chief medium for party
leaders to communicate with their supporters in the next general
election in 1997.

Golkar is currently pushing for a ban on all political rallies
at the upcoming election, and limiting the campaign to indoor
discussions or television advertising. (emb)