Megawati told to continue political struggle

JAKARTA (JP): Political observers urged Megawati Soekarnoputri over the weekend to continue her struggle for recognition as leader of the Indonesia Democratic Party (PDI) despite the government's immediate acknowledgment of Budi Hardjono as the official PDI chief.

Senior politician Supeni and political observer Ramlan Surbakti of the Surabaya-based Airlangga University, urged the eldest daughter of the late president Sukarno to plow on with her political fight.

"Megawati should never stop her political struggle. She is not supposed to change direction, but to continue to carry her PDI banner along with her struggle," Supeni, chairwoman of the Indonesian Nationalist Party (PNI), told The Jakarta Post.

The government last week stuck to its persistent recognition of the rival PDI board when it accepted Budi's election at a congress in Palu, Central Sulawesi. He replaced Soerjadi.

Megawati was ousted by Soerjadi in a government-engineered party congress in Medan, North Sumatra, in June 1996. However, with widespread backing, she has continued her struggle, maintaining that she is the legitimate leader of the party.

The new government under Habibie, while showing a more relaxed attitude toward many of the Megawati camp's activities, has continued its predecessor's policy of only acknowledging the rival camp, now under Budi's leadership.

Established in 1973, PDI is an amalgamation of five nationalist and Christian parties.

Supeni said Megawati's camp should not lose its fighting spirit since it still commanded the support of a majority of PDI supporters and the sympathy of the public.

"Should the government prevent her from joining next year's general election, it will likely have to face the people's anger," she said.

Supeni also discouraged Megawati from pinning too much hope on the suit she has filled against Soerjadi's camp.

She said the courts could take up to two years to issue a verdict.

The Supreme Court ruled earlier this month that the Central Jakarta District Court should continue hearing Megawati's lawsuit against Soerjadi and the committee members of the 1996 party congress.

Battle

Supeni expressed doubt that Budi's leadership could successfully reap any reward for the PDI in the "real" political battle, the coming general election.

"Let's see how far Budi Hardjono can go along with his own PDI," she remarked.

"Can his PDI meet all the requirements stipulated in the new electoral law, especially, after 13 PDI chapters which supported him or his predecessor Soerjadi in the past have now turned to Megawati?" she said.

Ramlan said Megawati should push forward with her political battle, irrespective of what the government thinks.

"Megawati does not have to worry about obtaining the government's recognition.

"The new law on general elections (which has yet to be introduced) does not require party leaders to obtain the government's recognition to join next year's election," Ramlan, a member of the government-initiated team responsible for preparing a draft for the new electoral law, told the Post.

He agreed with Supeni that Megawati should also not pause to wait for the results of her legal battle. (imn)