Mega opens HMI meeting

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