Megawati 'not allowed' to hold PDI ceremony

Megawati 'not allowed' to hold PDI ceremony

JAKARTA (JP): City Police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said
yesterday that his office would not let ousted Indonesian
Democratic Party (PDI) leader Megawati Soekarnoputri hold a
celebration of the party's 15th anniversary.

Aritonang said the police would take a tough stand and breakup
such a meeting if she held a ceremony without permission.

"We do not recognize any other PDI executive board other than
the one led by Soerjadi," he told reporters at the city police
headquarters. "If they insist on holding one, we'll have to ban
it."

Megawati was ousted as PDI chairwoman by Soerjadi in June 1996
in a government-sanctioned congress in Medan, North Sumatra.

But Aritonang admitted that he had not received any request
for such an event. Megawati has not announced that she would hold
such a celebration.

"Even if we receive the letter, we will not issue permission,"
Aritonang said.

Soerjadi sent letters of invitation to the media and party
members that he would organize the party's anniversary
celebration Saturday evening. (cst/imn)