Megawati to skip House's last ball

Megawati to skip House's last ball

JAKARTA (JP): Megawati Soekarnoputri, the deposed leader of
the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), will not attend a farewell
party for members of the House of Representatives (DPR) tomorrow.

Other House members loyal to her however said yesterday they
would go to the party, which will be held at the DPR building.

Megawati's close aid, Subadio Anam, said she could not attend
because she had other plans.

Megawati and her loyalists were excluded from contesting the
May general election in which the PDI was humiliated, winning
only 11 seats compared to 56 in 1992.

President Soeharto and Vice President Try Sutrisno are
expected to attend the gathering and address the 500 legislators
whose term ends next Tuesday.

It will be Soeharto's second appearance at a House farewell
party. The first was in 1987. The then Vice President Sudharmono
attended the farewell with House legislators five years ago.

Aberson Marle Sihaloho, a PDI legislator who was convicted in
July of defaming Soeharto, said he would go to the party with his
wife.

"For me, a friendly meeting between the country's two top
institutions is a good idea," he said.

Aberson is currently appealing to the high court against the
defamation verdict and the nine-month prison term meted out by
the Central Jakarta District Court.

Another Megawati loyalist, Sukowaluyo Mintoharjo, said he
would attend the gathering to show respect for "the close ties
between the House and the government".

"It can serve as a forum to look for common views on
substantive matters that both the House and the government are
facing," Sukowaluyo said.

Soeharto and House Speaker Wahono are scheduled to deliver
speeches during the evening gathering. (imn/amd)