Megawati rejects reconciliation offer

SEMARANG (JP): The overthrown leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), Megawati Soekarnoputri, ruled out a possible reconciliation with her political foe, Soerjadi, here Saturday.

"I think it will be very difficult for me to accept an offer of reconciliation from Soerjadi, especially because of his role in the July 27 riots, which claimed several lives," Megawati said.

Megawati, together with her loyalist Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno, was in the city to attend a wedding of one of her supporter's relatives.

Soetardjo added the Megawati camp would accept the offer only if Soerjadi gives up his post.

Soerjadi, who ousted the daughter of Indonesia's first president, Sukarno, in a government-sanctioned rebel congress in June, said he would not object to reconciling with Megawati but he would not offer any other concessions.

Soerjadi has had a hard time consolidating his leadership in the provinces, as support for Megawati remains strong. He was embarrassingly rejected by party members during consolidation visits to Central and East Java cities last month.

Megawati, elected by a popular vote at an extraordinary congress in 1993, claims she is still the legitimate party chief.

The wedding party turned into a political rally Saturday evening as hundreds of guests openly expressed their sympathy for Megawati.

When the guests pushed her to say a few words to the host, she also used the occasion to call on her supporters to keep on fighting for PDI under her leadership. (har/imn)