Megawati rejects reconciliation offer

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)