Megawati responsible for security in Bali: Habibie
Megawati responsible for security in Bali: Habibie
JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie has told ousted
Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) leader Megawati Soekarnoputri
that she is to help ensure security and order during her
faction's congress in Bali this week.
He reportedly told the eldest daughter of the country's first
president that any security disturbances would seriously affect
tourism on the island.
"He (Habibie) has conveyed to Ibu Megawati that she is also
responsible for the security (of the congress) because Bali is
the gateway for Indonesian tourism," Bali Governor Dewa Made
Beratha said on Tuesday after meeting the President at Merdeka
Palace. He did not know when Habibie first delivered the message
to Megawati.
Beratha was one of several new governors who met with the
President for a briefing on their respective provinces. The
others were West Nusa Tenggara Governor Harun Al Rasyid, Central
Java Governor Mardiyanto and South Sumatra Rosihan Arsyad.
The Bali governor said he had yet to receive an invitation to
attend the congress, but pledged that he would attend if invited.
Quoting reports from Balinese hoteliers, Beratha said the Bali
tourist industry had not been affected by the congress.
"All foreign consulates in Bali also support the congress.
There is no fear at all," the governor said.
The Bali administration will help safeguard the congress, he
said, while simultaneously promoting tourism on the island.
"We will help the congress committee with security. If
anything wrong happens, it will ruin the image of Indonesia in
the international community," he said.
He dismissed speculation that "preemptive" measures had been
taken to prevent Megawati supporters from entering Bali via the
Banyuwangi-Gilimanuk ferry shuttle service. "There has been no
cutback in the ferry shuttle service schedule," he said.
Separately, Minister of Home Affairs Syarwan Hamid said on
Tuesday that Megawati would still have to obtain government
recognition of her party faction.
"She (Megawati) cannot neglect the importance of the
government's recognition since it is a regulation," he told
reporters during a break of a hearing with the House of
Representatives (DPR) Commission II on political affairs.
"Legal recognition of her PDI can only be obtained after the
three political draft laws are passed," he said.
Syarwan dismissed allegations that he had personal feelings
against Megawati. The minister has been charged of condoning the
1996 PDI Medan Congress which elected Soerjadi as chairman to
replace Megawati. The congress is not recognized by Megawati's
PDI faction.
Syarwan was the Armed Forces chief of social political affairs
at the time. "It has nothing to do with likes or dislikes.
Everything must be in compliance with regulations," he said.
He declined to comment on Megawati's apparent negligence to
invite him to the congress, saying that he was responsible for
the completion of the drafts of the three political laws prior to
the general election slated for next year.
Congress organizers report they are nearly ready for the Oct.
8 to Oct. 10 gathering, saying the preparations at the venue, the
Grand Bali Beach Hotel, are almost complete.
Members of the PDI executive board loyal to Megawati,
including secretary-general Alexander Litaay, chief treasurer
Laksamana Sukardi and PDI senior member Sabam Sirait, have also
arrived on the island.
Megawati will reportedly arrive on Wednesday. She and her
family on Tuesday stopped for a day in Blitar, East Java, where
they paid homage to the grave of her father, Sukarno.
Megawati is popular in Bali since one of her grandmothers,
Idaju, was Balinese. Idaju's uncle was the last monarch of Bali's
Singaraja Kingdom. (prb/43/imn)