Megawati asks govt to dissolve Soerjadi's PDI
JAKARTA (JP): The Megawati Soekarnoputri camp of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) at the end of a three-day working meeting yesterday called on the government to dissolve rival Soerjadi's leadership of the party.
In a political statement read by secretary-general Alexander Litaay, the Megawati camp said the government's dissolution of Soerjadi's leadership would swiftly put an end to the party's leadership dispute, which has dragged on for two years.
"We want the government to dissolve immediately Soerjadi's PDI leadership," the statement said. "The PDI leadership under Soerjadi is unlawful because it was the product of an unconstitutional congress."
The meeting agreed that a resolution into the matter was essential in preparation for next year's general election, slated for May or June.
Megawati was ousted as chairwoman by Soerjadi in a government- backed congress in 1996.
However, Megawati and her supporters have persisted that they are the true leaders of PDI and have filed a slew of lawsuits challenging the legality of the congress and the rightfulness of Soerjadi.
The Supreme Court is on the verge of announcing a decision on whether Megawati has grounds to proceed with her suit filed against Soerjadi and several cabinet members, including current Minister of Home Affairs Syarwan Hamid.
However, even in an atmosphere of reform and under a new president, the government has yet to recognize Megawati as party leader.
R.O. Tambunan, chief of Megawati's team of lawyers, stressed yesterday the importance of a "political solution" through government intervention, since a legal verdict would only drag out the issue further.
"The party's leadership dispute must be ended through a political settlement. The government must not recognize Soerjadi's PDI leadership anymore," Tambunan told The Jakarta Post yesterday.
He said even a Supreme Court ruling in favor of Megawati would only overrule the Central Jakarta District Court's preliminary- trial ruling that Megawati had enough grounds for the suit.
"The Supreme Court's ruling cannot provide an immediate and satisfactory result as it will only order the Central Jakarta District Court to continue the trial.
"And it will take years for Megawati to wait for the result of her lawsuit, which is, in fact, only about to begin," he said.
President
During the three-day meeting, 18 of PDI's 27 chapters openly expressed their support for Megawati to run for president. The remaining nine chapters have yet to make a formal announcement but have not expressed any opposition to the idea.
Speaking to reporters with regard to her targets in the next general election, Megawati said "our target is only one: To win the general election".
Apart from the political statement, the meeting's participants also recommended that the executive board move forward the next party congress from December to October, with either Yogyakarta or Bali being considered as the likely venues.
The Soerjadi camp has announced that it will hold a congress in Palu, Central Sulawesi, from Aug. 26 to Aug. 30. Congress organizers claim they have invited President B.J. Habibie to open it.
The meeting, which was held at Bumi Wiyata Hotel, Depok, south of Jakarta, also recommended that the executive board revoke its bedrock agreement with the New Order government.
The agreement resulted in the merger of five political organizations to become the PDI in 1973. The agreement stipulates PDI's commitment to support the government and the Armed Forces's dual-function. (imn)