Megawati loyalists demand Soerjadi to resign

Megawati loyalists demand Soerjadi to resign

JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of supporters of ousted chief of the
Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) Megawati Soekarnoputri
demonstrated at the House of Representatives yesterday demanding
that her rival, Soerjadi, be held accountable for the July 27
riots.

The protesters also demanded that Soerjadi, who is also deputy
House speaker from the PDI faction, resign from his post.
Soerjadi ousted Megawati in a government-backed congress in
Medan, North Sumatra, in June.

"Long live Mega!" and "Take Soerjadi to court!" were among the
slogans chanted by some 300 people, all from Jakarta and clad in
the party's colors of black and red.

One of the protesters, Agus Siswantoro, said Soerjadi must be
held responsible for the violent riots that took place in Jakarta
in July. The riots erupted after the forced takeover of the
disputed PDI headquarters from Megawati supporters by troops and
Soerjadi supporters.

"He should be held responsible, or Indonesia risks greater
political disasters in the year ahead," Agus said. "We don't
recognize Soerjadi. His (claim) on the party's leadership was
determined by the government, not PDI members."

The demonstrators sought to meet with House Speaker Wahono but
failed. They also demanded that the government help find people
missing since the riot, which they claimed numbered 35.

Agus said yesterday's demonstration was only one of the many
planned.

Sandra Fertasari Putri, another activist, voiced frustration
at what she called government inaction against Soerjadi. She said
she could not forgive the beatings and court sentences against
her colleagues and called on the government to also take
responsibility for the riots.

Sandra, 29, was one of the 124 people arrested and recently
released from jail following the riots, which, according to the
National Commission on Human Rights, claimed five lives and left
more than 100 injured and scores of buildings damaged.

Against a background of cheers and chants for Megawati,
activist representatives filed a petition with Wahono demanding
that the House help bring Soerjadi to court and dismiss him from
the legislative body.

They also demanded that Megawati be allowed to resume her
party's leadership and contest the general election next year.

Yesterday, dozens of security guards kept a watchful eye on
the demonstrators, who left the premises peacefully in a
procession of cars adorned with banners and headed toward the
National Police headquarters. (01)