Mega opens HMI meeting

JAKARTA: President Megawati Soekarnoputri opened on Thursday the congress of the Association of Islamic Students (HMI), amid protests from several branches of the organization against holding the ceremony at the State Palace.

During the ceremony, Megawati corrected a statement made by HMI chairman Hasanuddin, who called Megawati a vice presidential candidate.

"I am the presidential candidate of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle," she said, at the beginning of her speech.

The HMI branches said holding the ceremony at the palace would compromise the association's impartiality, due to the President's candidacy. --JP