Let the people decide on PDI

JAKARTA (JP): Chairman of the Supreme Advisory Council Sudomo yesterday called on the government to stay away from the leadership dispute in the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) and let the people decide the party's legitimate leadership.

"The government should not interfere in the PDI's internal leadership dispute. It is high time the party proved its independence," he said.

Speaking after a consultative meeting with Armed Forces Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung, Sudomo suggested that Soerjadi, the government-backed party chairman, accelerate his efforts toward consolidating the party in the regions.

"Soerjadi has to be responsible for the PDI's performance in next year's general election," he said.

Soerjadi became PDI chairman after he ousted Megawati Soekarnoputri in a government-backed congress in Medan, North Sumatra, in June. Megawati claims she is still the party's legitimate leader.

Soerjadi said he did not believe Megawati, who remains popular with the masses, would be able to disrupt the 1997 general election, scheduled for May 29.

"I have experienced a lot of obstacles and challenges during my leadership. We were surrounded by problems during the 1992 general election, yet we managed to increase our number of seats in the House," he said last week.

Soerjadi was PDI chairman from 1988 to 1993 until he lost the post to Megawati.

When asked about the possibility of bringing the two disputed PDI leaders to the negotiating table, Sudomo said there was nothing the government could do to help settle the dispute.

"Let the people make the decision on the PDI's leadership dispute," he said.

Soerjadi's legitimacy as party leader would be determined after the General Election Committee completed its ballot calculation next year, he said.

"The number of seats the PDI gets in the election will show how well Soerjadi is accepted by members," he said.

Asked whether he was willing to help mediate the PDI dispute, Sudomo said it was too late.

"It is already too close to election day. The party's leadership has already been polarized," he said.

He recalled that he once offered to mediate the conflict between Soerjadi and Megawati, long before the violent takeover of the party's headquarters on July 27.

"The July 27 riots might not have happened if they had listened to me," he said.

Asked his advice on how best to settle the dispute, Sudomo said the Supreme Advisory Council had submitted its suggestion to the government and the President. (imn)