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)