Megawati offers referendum to end PDI rift

JAKARTA (JP): The ousted leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), Megawati Soekarnoputri, offered yesterday to hold a referendum to solve the protracted conflict within the minority party.

Megawati loyalist Alexander Litaay said the referendum was the fairest way to bring the energy-sapping dispute to an end. It could also serve as a face-saving measure for the conflicting parties, he said.

Litaay insisted, however, that negotiations over the referendum should involve only the Megawati-led faction and the government, and exclude the government-recognized faction under chairman Soerjadi. Litaay said Soerjadi's faction was "unconstitutional".

"Any referendum, if agreed by the government, should be conducted by an independent committee approved by us and the government, and run before the national congress in December next year," said Litaay, PDI secretary-general under Megawati.

The committee might comprise members of non-governmental organizations and the National Commission on Human Rights, Litaay said.

He was commenting on a conflict solution proposal offered by Soerjadi's secretary-general Buttu R. Hutapea last week. Buttu said the two factions should meet for a national dialog to seek compromises.

But Litaay dismissed the offered dialog, saying that any attempts at conflict settlement should involve only the Megawati faction and the government.

Litaay predicted that his proposal for a referendum would face opposition because there was no stipulation on such a course of action in the party's statutes.

"That's why we have to discuss it first with the government," he said.

He said the May 29 general election had served as a referendum, proving that the Soerjadi-led PDI lacked legitimacy. The party slumped to its worst poll performance ever, winning only three percent of the national vote and 11 seats in the House of Representatives.

"That's how people expressed their opposition (against the government's policies) and refusal to recognize PDI under Soerjadi," he said.

Litaay said a referendum would confirm popular support for Megawati, who is the eldest daughter of the late founding president Sukarno.

Megawati was elected party chairwoman in December 1993. A breakaway congress in June last year overthrew her and reinstated former chairman Soerjadi to the party's helm.

Conflict between the two factions peaked in bloody riots which followed a forceful takeover of the party's headquarters by Soerjadi followers on July 27 last year. Five people were killed and 23 went missing in the riots.

Litaay said a referendum was the preferable alternative to ending the dispute and much better than leaving the decision to a court.

"Soerjadi must dissolve his faction pending a court ruling ... If we have an independent trial, I'm optimistic that we will win our lawsuit," he said.

Megawati has filed hundreds of lawsuit against Soerjadi's camp and the government. (40/amd)