Megawati marks national freedom with supporters
JAKARTA (JP): Ousted Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) leader Megawati Soekarnoputri chose to miss the ceremony held by President B.J. Habibie at the State Palace and instead commemorated independence day with hundreds of her supporters at a party branch office yesterday.
She told journalists that she had been invited to the ceremony in the palace "in my capacity as a member of Bung Karno's family", but had sent other family members as representatives. Bung Karno is an affectionate name given to former president Sukarno, who proclaimed Indonesian independence on Aug. 17, 1945.
In the past, Megawati and other members of Sukarno's family attended the independence day ceremony held at the palace by then president Soeharto.
Yesterday she was at the PDI's branch office in the Joglo subdistrict of West Jakarta.
In her speech delivered to 700 boisterous supporters, most of whom were clad in the party colors of red and black, she said:
"Because Indonesia is currently going through hard times, I think it's better for me to get close to the people. To feel what the people feel."
She was accompanied yesterday by her party's secretary- general, Alexander Litaay, and staunch supporters such as Soetjipto Soerjogoeritno, Roy B.B. Janis, Sophan Sophiaan, Tarto Sudiro and Permadi. Also present was her husband Taufiq Kiemas. She chose red and white, the colors of the national flag, as fitting attire for the occasion.
"It's the first time I have been with PDI (supporters) to celebrate independence day. It used to be that members of the central board represented me," she told journalists shortly after the ceremony.
"It takes spirit to live (and) survive (hardship) ... the flames of the spirit must never die, even if from time to time they burn lower," Megawati said in her speech.
She called on the people not to lose hope. "The government must unite with its people to face these hard times. The government won't be able to beat the crisis without the trust and help of the people.
"Don't let this hardship that we are facing make us feel inferior, we must continue to fight."
Touching on the party's problems, Megawati reminded her supporters never to resort to violence.
Her leadership of the PDI was undermined in June 1996 when her rival, Soerjadi, was appointed in her stead during a government- backed breakaway party congress in Medan, North Sumatra.
"In days gone by we waged war against colonialists... but in the present time, it's our own fellow countrymen (that we're facing), so we must not resort to violence," she said.
Megawati expressed hope that the Armed Forces (ABRI) would no longer support the use of violence against her camp. So, she continued, "If they (her rivals) want to use violence, do they think ABRI will give them support again?"
Megawati's remarks were an open attack on Soerjadi's camp, who plan to hold their congress in Palu, Central Sulawesi, next week.
"They are nothing, a small problem (not worthy of resorting to violence)," Megawati said to thunderous applause from her supporters. (aan)