Magawati loyalists open secretariat

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)