Megawati, Kwik lead PDI-P squad to House

Megawati, Kwik lead PDI-P squad to House

JAKARTA (JP): Megawati Soekarnoputri and Kwik Kian Gie have
both secured House of Representative seats and look certain to
lead a big Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan) contingent in the legislative body.

Results of the latest vote count issued by some provincial
election committees in Java ensured PDI Perjuangan chairwoman
Megawati and her deputy Kwik of clinching House seats
representing Bandung regency and Jakarta constituencies
respectively.

According to Law No. 3 on the General Election, a regency or
mayoralty is allocated at least one House seat. This means the
winning party takes the minimum House seat allocation for a
regency or mayoralty.

Megawati will be joined by staunch loyalist Mangara Siahaan,
who represents Bandung mayoralty, renowned economist Laksamana
Sukardi of Sukabumi regency, former secretary for development
control and operation Solichin G.P. of Sumedang regency and noted
lawyer Tumbu Saraswati of Pandeglang regency.

PDI Perjuangan dominated the June 7 polls in at least 16
regencies and mayoralties.

As of Monday afternoon, the provisional tally of the votes
issued by the General Elections Commission (KPU) put PDI
Perjuangan on top in Jakarta with 1,000, 389 votes. The capital's
residents do not vote for mayoralty candidates.

If the minimum requirement for a House seat in the capital
city is estimated at about 400,000, Kwik -- who, after chairman
of PDI Perjuangan's Jakarta chapter Roy Janis, is second in the
party's list of legislative candidates -- will qualify for the
House.

Former House legislators Sabam Sirait and Aberson Marle
Sihaloho, who was jailed for defaming former president Soeharto
in 1996, have a good chance of joining their two colleagues.

Java is a proven stronghold of PDI Perjuangan. The party
dominates the counting of returns in three out of five provinces
in the densely populated island. The party has garnered at least
45 House seats from Java.

In Central Java alone the party has won 16 of 60 seats up for
grabs. Deputy chairman Dimyati Hartono, representing Cilacap
regency, former chairman of the government-sanctioned Indonesian
Youth Committee Cahyo Kumolo, who represents Grobogan regency and
Sukoharjo regency's representative Koes Moertiyah, a daughter of
Surakarta sultan Pakubuwono X, are among PDI Perjuangan cadres
who have secured places in the next House.

The United Development Party (PPP) captured at least one House
seat after topping the polls in Jepara, 60 kilometers northeast
of the provincial capital of Semarang.

Chairman of PDI Perjuangan's East Java chapter, Soetjipto, who
represents Surabaya, Megawati's brother Guruh Soekarnoputra,
representing Blitar regency, renowned soothsayer Permadi of
Madiun regency, Meilono Suwondo of Madiun mayoralty and Haryanto
Taslam, a party executive who was abducted by a group of Special
Forces (Kopassus) troops prior to the fall of Soeharto, are among
23 PDI Perjuangan East Java representatives assured of winning
legislative seats.

The party is an inch away from a clean sweep in Yogyakarta and
Bali, taking 14 out of 15 House seats reserved for the two
provinces.

Former legislator Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno of Sleman heads the
triumphant PDI Perjuangan team to the House. The party has
secured five of six seats up for grabs after winning in all five
regencies and the sole mayoralty in Yogyakarta.

The National Awakening Party (PKB) took a slender lead over
PDI Perjuangan in East Java, having booked 24 of 68 House seats
allocated for the province. The ruling Golkar has grabbed eight
seats, while PPP and the National Mandate Party (PAN) clinched
three each.

PKB dominated the polls in areas which in the past were
Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Party strongholds, including Gresik,
Banyuwangi, Pasuruan, Pamekasan and Sampang. The last two areas
are on Madura Island.

In a related development, on Monday a group of minor parties
threatened the KPU they would not sign poll results in East Java,
after they failed to win House seats.

Chairman of the United Party (PP) provincial chapter Andi
Sudirman said in Surabaya the elections would only create
injustices and inequality if the KPU did not provide the tiny
parties with at least a seat each.

"We have fought it out to encourage democratization in the
country by establishing parties. We deserve House seats for our
efforts," Sudirman said.

Chairman of the provincial elections committee Bisri A.
Djalil, ruled out the demand, saying it violated both the
election law and the essence of democracy.

"To me it's a bizarre suggestion, but we will listen to it.
Everything is up to all parties contesting the polls," Bisri
said.(43/45/nur/amd)