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)