Megawati loyalists push on with cause
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)