Megawati tells supporters to defend PDI HQ

Megawati tells supporters to defend PDI HQ

JAKARTA (JP): Megawati Soekarnoputri, the overthrown chief of
the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), told her supporters
yesterday to defend the party's headquarters from any attempt to
occupy it.

Addressing 3,000 PDI activists participating in a free speech
rally, which the military has been campaigning to ban, Megawati
said the headquarters belongs to the people and that it is the
right of the people to defend it.

"This building belongs to the people, not to Megawati as a
person. So, it is the right of the people to defend the building
from any efforts to occupy it," she said to loud cheers from the
crowd.

The government and some party rebels, who have staked claims
on the headquarters, have said that the office was originally
provided for the party by the government.

"It's true. However, the government should remember that they
were elected by the people. Therefore, the building does belong
to the people," she said.

Ever since a group of party dissenters moved to unseat her in
June, Megawati's supporters have occupied the headquarters.
Megawati said her supporters were only responding to the "rigged
congress" last month in Medan, North Sumatra, which toppled her
and elected Soerjadi as the new party chairman.

"They only want their lawful chairperson running the party's
headquarters," she said.

Soerjadi and his board have set up a temporary headquarters at
his official residence on Jl. Denpasar Raya in South Jakarta.

The government and Soerjadi's faction have repeatedly demanded
that the headquarters be returned to the PDI central board that
was formed at the Medan congress. Soerjadi has said several times
he might solicit the help of the police or the military to occupy
the office.

Megawati said the Armed Forces (ABRI) "should think carefully"
of the consequences before they decided to get involved in any
planned takeover. "ABRI belongs to the people and has the
obligation to protect the people," she added.

Both Armed Forces Commander Gen. Feisal Tanjung and Chief of
Sociopolitical Affairs Lt. Gen. Syarwan Hamid have said that ABRI
would be willing to help Soerjadi if he came up with a plan to
retake the building from Megawati's supporters.

There have been rumors since last week that a group of
Soerjadi's men might take over the headquarters soon. They have
not, so far, proved to be correct.

The free speech rally at the Jakarta PDI headquarters entered
its 32nd day yesterday. It was first held after the June 20 clash
between security personnel and Megawati's supporters, who were
marching in front of Gambir railway station in Central Jakarta on
June 20.

After the incident, the Jakarta regional military command and
the Megawati camp agreed that her supporters would no longer take
to the streets if the military allowed them to hold meetings at
party headquarters.

The supporters have basically adhered to the agreement,
although they have on several occasions taken to the streets in
protest. They normally gather at party headquarters to sing
patriotic songs, listen to speeches, wave placards and unfurl
banners critical of the government and the military.

Speakers who have used the rallies to express their opinions
include party executives of Megawati's camp, soothsayer Permadi
Satrio Wiwoho, deputy chairman of the Indonesian Bar Association
R.O. Tambunan, and human rights and student activists. (imn)