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)