Megawati's husband rejected

SEMARANG (JP): About 100 members of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) demonstrated their rejection yesterday of the legislative candidacy of party boss Megawati Soekarnoputri's husband.

They marched to the party's headquarters from Surakarta, demanding that Taufik Kiemas drop his candidacy for the constituency of Palembang and Muara Enim, South Sumatra.

They also pressed the same demand for Taufik's relatives, Saridayanah Kiemas of the Jakarta constituency and Nasrudin Kiemas of South Sumatra.

The banner-waving protesters said the three's candidacy smacked of nepotism that might be exploited by Megawati's rivals to discredit her.

"We sincerely hope their candidacy will be dropped because PDI Perjuangan doesn't tolerate collusion, corruption or nepotism," said their spokesman Yubiarno.

The deputy chairman of the Central Java chapter of PDI Perjuangan, Utoyo, promised he would convey the demonstrators' demand to Jakarta. (har)