Megawati should redefine herself, observers say

JAKARTA (JP): Political observers are calling on ousted leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), Megawati Soekarnoputri, to elevate her political competition to fight for national interest.

Political lecturer Ramlan Surbakti, PDI senior member Abdul Madjid and PDI legislator Sukowaluyo Mintorahardjo agreed in a discussion yesterday that Megawati's role in democratization has been expanding and that PDI has become too small a venue for her.

Megawati should therefore shift gears and aim her party activities toward something that reaches farther and contributes more to the democratization of the country, they agreed.

"It's time for Megawati to start 'articulating' her concern over the ongoing democratization of the country," said Ramlan, who teaches at Airlangga University in Surabaya. The discussion on PDI was held by the Institute for Free Flow Information Studies yesterday.

"PDI has now become too small for Megawati's political struggle," said Sukowaluyo, who is known as a Megawati loyalist.

"Megawati is no longer a mere PDI figure. She has made herself a symbol for the pro-democracy movement in Indonesia," Madjid said.

Ramlan said Megawati was the only figure with the capability of representing the interests of the pro-democracy movement.

"Megawati has people who support her. She also has PDI, although unrecognized by the government, as her basis of struggle," he said.

Sukowaluyo said Megawati could strengthen her political bargaining power by forming networks with activists of similar pro-democracy movements and also with the government.

"She can disseminate her ideas of democratization through her political networks," he said.

Speaking about Megawati's future actions now that the party was badly fractured, Ramlan suggested that she regain her leading role at the party's next congress.

The rival factions each proposed a different time for the next congress. Megawati wanted it in December 1998 while her rival, Soerjadi, wanted it in June next year.

Ramlan did not say which congress Megawati should get involved with, saying only that she should start consolidating her grassroots supporters for her "comeback".

He also suggested that Megawati should change her "attitude" in her political struggle and in dealing with the government.

"The government is very strong for Megawati to challenge. She must be flexible and avoid radical maneuvers in dealing with her political 'enemies'," he said.

Megawati was unseated as PDI chairwoman in a government-backed congress in the North Sumatra capital of Medan in June last year.

Megawati, who won the popular vote in an extraordinary congress in December 1993, was replaced by Soerjadi.

Claiming that the congress was unlawful, she and her supporters filed hundreds of lawsuits nationwide, challenging the validity of the congress and its results.

Sukowaluyo, however, told Megawati not to fully rely on her legal battle.

"Court battles are not the only way to regain her leading position," he said.

He shared Ramlan's opinion that Megawati should also get involved in the next party congress.

Meanwhile, Abdul Madjid suggested that Megawati continue her political struggle no matter what.

"Megawati must challenge all injustice. However, her actions should always be in line with the law and she must avoid illegal activities," he said. (imn/25)