Magawati loyalists open secretariat

YOGYAKARTA: Local loyalists of the deposed chief of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) Megawati Soekarnoputri opened a secretariat in a modest ceremony near here yesterday.

Grouped in the executive board of the PDI Perjuangan (PDI Struggle) organization they still recognize Megawati as the legitimate boss of the minority party.

Megawati, elected by popular vote in 1993, was ousted in a government-backed rebel congress in the North Sumatra capital of Medan in June.

Her loyalists have filed a lawsuit against several PDI officials who attended the congress, charging that they breached an agreement to boycott the meeting on the grounds that it was unconstitutional.

The secretariat is at the residence of Suprapti, one of Megawati's supporters, on Jl. Parangtritis.

A large banner reading "Yogyakarta Bulls Keep on Fighting" was placed outside the secretariat. PDI has a bull as its party symbol.

"We will use this secretariat a meeting place," said Ispurwanto, who led the opening ceremony. (30/pan)