Megawati vows to hold congress, contest election

BANDUNG (JP): Undaunted by the government's continued recognition of a rival camp, Megawati Soekarnoputri of the splintered Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) vowed on Tuesday she will lead her supporters at the general election next year.

The popular ousted leader told a gathering of thousands of supporters here she would hold her camp's congress in October -- rather than December as previously scheduled -- to elect a new leadership.

Megawati did not elaborate about the congress, which is expected to be held either in Yogyakarta or Bali. She only said that while she deliberately did not vote in the 1997 general election organized by former president Soeharto's regime, she would use her right to vote next year.

"Whether or not I would still be PDI leader at the time, is not an issue. Leave the question of the party leadership to the congress," she said.

She threatened to stage protests if anyone attempted to disrupt her plan to hold the congress. "Even the new parties can hold congresses without any disturbances. So why can't PDI, which clearly enjoys the support of many people, hold its congress?" she said.

She then called on her supporters to consolidate and prepare for the general election, planned for either May or June next year. She called on them not to be swayed by anybody who tried to buy them off, now that it was evident her supporters represented a real political force.

"This is true. The only thing that would weaken PDI would be if its cadres were tempted by money and positions. There are people who have tried to lure PDI cadres in districts, offer them millions of rupiah (in exchange for their support). Don't be tempted," she said.

Megawati, in Bandung to open a branch congress, again attracted the strong support she enjoyed in other parts of the country. Thousands flocked to the meeting site and traffic became very congested, especially after her supporters held a motorcade after the gathering.

She also insisted that, despite mounting calls from various quarters, she would not make up with her rival, Soerjadi, who ousted her in a June 1996 congress in Medan, North Sumatra.

"They say I am stubborn. I am not, I am a person of principle and I adhere to party statutes," she said, to hysterical applause from her supporters.

She also said Soerjadi's maneuver in holding a government- recognized congress last week in Palu, Central Sulawesi -- which elected Budi Hardjono as the new party chairman -- was none of her camp's business. "So don't ask me about the result of (the congress in) Palu. That is none of the PDI's business," she asserted.

Acknowledging that the government appeared to be confused as to how to handle the PDI question and was unable to recognize her camp as the legitimate PDI, Megawati said: "They (government officials) are still trying to save face even after their maneuvers (in splitting the party) have been exposed," she said.

"We demand that the government take a clear stance on the matter," she said. "If this is not enough, then maybe PDI should show its force. If all of its 30 million cadres around the country march, how long do you think the line would be?

"So, will you be willing to walk in Indian file if I ask you to?" she queried, to which her supporters shouted, "We will!" (43)