Megawati loyalists push on with cause
JAKARTA (JP): Megawati Soekarnoputri loyalists, sidelined from participation in the election, are planning more rallies to prove they can muster the numbers and that their cause is not lost.
In Ujungpandang, they are planning another massive street rally after Monday's show of force which stopped the rival Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) faction campaigning.
Other Megawati loyalists in Yogyakarta have secured the permission of the local sultan's family to lay wreaths and pray at Imogiri royal cemetery for the sultanate's spirits to bless their cause.
The loyalists were condemned in Bandar Lampung, southern Sumatra, yesterday for disrupting a campaign organized by the government-recognized rival party faction under Soerjadi.
Soerjadi ousted Megawati as party leader in a breakaway congress in Medan, last year. Megawati, who has refused to concede the party's leadership, has told her supporters to shun violence.
Megawati supporters in several provinces have waged their own campaign to humiliate Soerjadi by discouraging people from voting for PDI.
Andi Potji, a Megawati loyalist in the South Sulawesi capital of Ujungpandang, told The Jakarta Post yesterday he had sought a government permit to hold another rally.
"The rally aims to demonstrate our loyalty to sister Mega," he said referring to Megawati, the eldest daughter of first president Sukarno.
"We are people who follow our conscience and have no respect for party leaders like Soerjadi who can be used like a tool," he said.
On Monday, thousands of Megawati loyalists took to the streets of Ujungpandang, where they held a free speech forum to vent their frustration.
Andi said Megawati had blessed the plan. He hoped the next rally would be held soon.
In Yogyakarta, a six-member delegation of Megawati loyalists met GBPH Joyokusumo, a younger brother of Sultan Hamengku Buwono IX, to discuss the government's ban on Megawati standing for election.
The royal family has given the loyalists permission to visit the sultan's cemetery tonight (Thursday night) and promised to arrange a meeting with the sultan.
"He (Joyokusumo) promised to let us meet the sultan in two or three days," said Totok Ispurwanto, a delegate.
Totok rejected speculation that many local Megawati loyalists would cross to Golkar or the United Development Party (PPP).
"We have no inkling of a shifting allegiance to Golkar or PPP," he said.
In a recent interview with The Post, the sultan said he hoped Megawati loyalists would not shift their political allegiance but continue to seek a resolution.
From Bandar Lampung, Antara reported that over 100 Megawati loyalists had "infiltrated" and disrupted an indoor rally yesterday held by the Soerjadi faction.
Police controlled the crowd and threw the loyalists out of the convention building after a 30-minute scuffle. No injuries were reported. At least one loyalist was detained.
The PDI faction realized they had a problem when campaigner Fathullah began addressing the crowd. A Megawati loyalist stood on his chair and shouted pro-Megawati slogans.
Scores of people, obviously loyal to Megawati, cheered the protester. Security officers burst into the building and dragged out the loyalists. (38/30/pan)