Megawati to go on with Bali congress
JAKARTA (JP): Megawati Soekarnoputri is sticking to her plan to hold a congress in Bali of her camp of the splintered Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), despite lacking a permit and government concerns it could disrupt the island's lucrative tourist industry.
But in acknowledgement of the government's fear of negative fallout from a mass mobilization, Megawati appealed to her followers on Saturday to leave it up their officials to attend the event scheduled early next month.
"Trust your party officials," she said. Megawati advised that party members ineligible to attend the congress should continue their usual activities.
Megawati made the same request of loyalists who plan to travel in motorbike convoys to Bali.
Megawati loyalist Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno expressed optimism the congress would proceed without problems, including intervention from the security apparatus.
"The (planned) congress will eventually be permitted by the police and will commence smoothly," he told reporters at the new secretariat of Megawati's faction in Lenteng Agung subdistrict, South Jakarta.
Thousands packed the chapter office in West Jakarta on Sunday to mark the opening of its own congress. Megawati was represented by her advisor, Kwik Kian Gie, who also asserted that preparations for the congress would continue.
Chapter chairman Roy B.B. Janis also said the chapter would intensify its campaign to reelect Megawati as party chairwoman at the congress.
Party members also spoke of the possibility of nominating Megawati as president next year. On Saturday, thousands of youths from Surakarta, Central Java, said in a media statement that they would support Megawati's nomination for the presidency.
The PDI, an amalgamation of five nationalist and Christian parties, has been riddled by internal leadership disputes since its founding in 1973.
In recent years, it was split into separate factions led by Megawati, who was ousted in a 1996 congress in Medan, North Sumatra, and another headed by Soerjadi. He was recently replaced by Budi Hardjono.
Despite widespread criticism, the government has persistently recognized Budi's faction as the only legitimate PDI. It recently suggested that Megawati should register her camp under a different name for the rift to be ended.
The treasurer of Megawati's camp, Laksamana Sukardi, ruled it out as an option.
"The security apparatus must understand that the only forum to change the party's name is in the congress," Laksamana said.
Several branches of PDI's Jakarta chapter indicated that the proposal to change the party's name would be included in the upcoming congress' agenda.
"PDI was the product of the previous New Order government. And it should not be retained in this reform era," said Audi F. Tambunan, the chairman of the South Jakarta branch loyal to Megawati.
The chairman of the pro-Megawati Bali chapter, Ida Bagus Putu Wesnawa, has also said preparations for the congress are ongoing.
"We keep on working for the congress' preparation. If people talk about obtaining the permit, it's the responsibility of the PDI executive board," Wesnawa was quoted as saying by Antara on Saturday.
"A day before the opening ceremony on Oct. 8, the accommodation for the 1,200 participants from PDI 27 chapters will have been ready."
The congress -- with its main agenda to discuss the party's political and organizational five-yearly guidelines and to elect the party's 1998/2003 leadership board -- will be held at the Grand Bali Beach Hotel in Sanur.
Several ambassadors to Indonesia and leaders of the newly established political parties are expected to attend the three- day congress.
Despite limited access to the congress venue, thousands of Megawati supporters from Central Java have insisted they will leave for Bali to attend the congress.
"Dozens of officials from the PDI Central Java chapter and thousands of supporters will come to Bali to attend the congress," Oetojo, deputy chairman of pro-Megawati Central Java chapter of PDI, said on Saturday. (imn/har/swe)