Megawati marks national freedom with supporters

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)