Megawati may visit E. Java: Military

Megawati may visit E. Java: Military

JAKARTA (JP): The East Java military chief says Indonesian
Democratic Party (PDI) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri may
enter his territory on condition that she skip rift-ridden party
branches.

PDI members in East Java are divided over who is to chair the
party in their province, with one camp supporting Sutjipto and
the other backing Latief Pudjosakti.

The East Java government recognizes neither Sutjipto, who was
appointed by Megawati, nor Latief, whom it wants to see lead the
local chapter.

Local military chief Maj. Gen. Imam Utomo said yesterday in
the provincial capital Surabaya that he feared that Megawati's
presence would trigger conflict between those party members who
supported her leadership and those who opposed it.

"We don't mind mbak (Mrs.) Mega (Megawati) coming here so long
as her presence doesn't stir up tumult," he said, as quoted by
the Antara news agency.

He said physical clashes were likely to break out if Megawati
visited party branches in regencies in which party officials were
divided into two opposing camps.

The East Java authorities have come under criticism for
barring Megawati from visiting PDI members in the province and
from formally appointing Sutjipto.

Governor Basofi Sudirman has said that Sutjipto's installment
is not possible until PDI members in the province have reached
agreement on the leadership question.

The conflict between the minority party and the East Java
government started last year when a local party congress failed
to elect the new provincial chief. A group of local PDI leaders
then chose Latief, Megawati's arch rival, who won the
government's sympathy. But Megawati rejected Latief and named
Sutjipto the new leader in the province.

After twice being barred from installing Sutjipto, Megawati
intends to visit East Java next week. It is not yet known whether
the authorities will permit the visit.

"Pak (Mr.) Basofi Sudirman has made it clear that mbak Mega is
free to visit East Java provided that she does not swear in
Sutjipto, who is not yet entirely acceptable to all party members
here," Imam said.

Imam, who heads the local office of the national security
agency, said that the authorities had barred her from visiting
Pasuruan because the party branch's officials were split into
opposing camps.

The local military authorities were compelled to have her
visit canceled because they felt that her presence would trigger
physical clashes between the rival activists, he said.

"In fact, in Pasuruan it was the local party leaders who
decided to have her visit canceled because of the conflict. If
all party officials belonged to the same camp, then there would
be no need to bar her," he added.

Imam said Megawati should not insist on having Sutjipto at the
helm, thereby paving the way for a resolution of the conflict.

The provincial government has been criticized for allowing
last week a gathering in Sidoarjo, just south of Surabaya, at
which Latief was present.

But Imam has argued that the meeting was organized by a PDI
branch whose leaders were not split into opposing camps.

Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M. said in Jakarta on
Tuesday that he would summon governor Basofi to discuss the
unpopular barring of the PDI chief.

Yogie said he would like to have first hand information on the
issue from Basofi. He dismissed suggestions that he should also
speak with Megawati about the dispute. (pan)