Megawati dismisses suggestion to split PDI

Megawati dismisses suggestion to split PDI

JAKARTA (JP): The ousted leader of the Indonesian Democratic
Party (PDI), Megawati Soekarnoputri, yesterday rejected Minister
of Home Affairs Syarwan Hamid's proposal to split the party into
two new separate parties if its two warring factions failed to
settle their differences.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with chairman of the
Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Moslem organization Abdurrahman Wahid and
Dili bishop Carlos Felipe Ximenes Belo, Megawati described the
minister's proposal as "groundless and unacceptable".

"I will not accept Syarwan Hamid's proposal since the
legitimate PDI leadership is the one which I now head," she said.

Syarwan on Thursday suggested the divided PDI camps be split
into two parties if Megawati and Soerjadi's supporters could not
resolve their differences.

When former president Soeharto resigned in May, the new
government appeared to withdraw its rigid recognition of
Soerjadi's PDI leadership.

Megawati, the eldest daughter of the late president Sukarno,
was ousted as PDI leader in a government-backed congress in June
1996. She was replaced by Soerjadi.

However she and her supporters refused to acquiesce, filing
lawsuits against Soerjadi and the congress' organizing committee.

The suits are still going on, but a separate suit against the
government was rejected by the courts.

The influential Abdurrahman sided with Megawati.

"I'll support her for the party she now leads," Abdurrahman,
who is better known as Gus Dur, said.

He claimed that his support came after a long evaluation of
Megawati's dedication and political performance.

However Abdurrahman's personal support cannot be regarded as
an endorsement from the 30-million strong organization which he
leads.

Abdurrahman pointed out that NU members were free to decide
how to channel their own political aspirations.

"I have repeatedly said that NU members are free to choose and
vote for whatever political parties they choose," he said.

He further dismissed speculation that he was behind the
establishment of Partai Kebangkitan Bangsa (The National
Resurgence Party) which was founded by leaders of the NU Central
Java chapter.

"It was completely the actions of NU members," he said.

When asked about his past relationship with Soeharto's eldest
daughter, Siti Hardijanti Rukmana, Abdurrahman said it was over.

"My relationship with Mbak Tutut (Hardijanti's nick name) was
temporary.

"It was built up when Golkar was making preparations for last
year's general election campaign," he said.

Abdurrahman was seen accompanying Hardijanti on visits to a
number of Pondok Pesantren (Islamic Boarding Schools) in Central
and West Java and Lampung in the run up to last year's general
election.

Abdurrahman said the decision to forge a relationship with
Hardijanti was made after Megawati was expelled from her own
party and unable to participate in last year's general
election. (imn)