Megawati's PDI sets goal for next year's election

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) faction loyal to ousted leader Megawati Soekarnoputri will contest the general election next year under their old banner rather than establish a new party, her supporters said yesterday.

Secretary-general Alexander Litaay warned the government of "consequences" if it only recognized the faction led by Megawati's rival, Soerjadi. He did not elaborate, but recalled June 1996, when the government supported a breakaway congress which toppled Megawati and elected Soerjadi leader.

The government would irrevocably lose the people's trust if it chose to side with Soerjadi, Litaay told a media conference.

Another loyalist, Roy B.B. Janis, said he was confident Megawati would triumph in the elections if she was allowed to reach out to rural areas.

"I can say we have 40 to 50 million members and supporters nationwide," he said.

The government has decided to hold a general election between May and June next year.

Roy also said former Armed Forces (ABRI) commander Gen. (ret) Feisal Tanjung and former ABRI chief of sociopolitical affairs Lt. Gen. Syarwan Hamid must be held responsible for initiating the congress and for the subsequent takeover of the party's headquarters from Megawati supporters in July of the same year.

"Soerjadi himself has said Feisal Tanjung and Syarwan Hamid were involved in the takeover of the party's headquarters in July 1996. They (Soerjadi, Feisal and Syarwan) and Soerjadi's secretary-general Buttu R. Hutapea must be held responsible for the takeover," he said.

Feisal, now Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security, said earlier this week that Buttu lead the takeover of the party headquarters.

Another Megawati loyalist, Jacob Nuwa Wea, said he would call on the police to follow up on Feisal's accusation.

Feisal yesterday declined to respond to allegations that the government engineered the PDI's internal conflict.

"You must have all by now realized what the political situation was like under Pak Harto's leadership," he told reporters before a limited cabinet meeting on political affairs and security at the Bina Graha presidential office yesterday.

Separately, Syarwan said he would be ready if Megawati's faction took legal action against him for his alleged involvement in the takeover. The incident sparked off rioting in which five people were killed and many more went missing.

Syarwan, who is now Minister of Home Affairs, defended the government's involvement in the internal affairs of political parties, and said it was common practice.

"It is normal. We provide financial assistance to any party holding its congress," he said.

However, he rejected the suggestion that the government must bear responsibility for the PDI's internal dispute.

"How far can the government be held responsible for the PDI's internal affairs?" he asked.

He called on PDI members to await the outcome of ongoing legal proceedings.

"If the court decides that Megawati is the legitimate leader, we (the government) will comply with the ruling. We'll do the same if the court decides otherwise," he said. (imn/prb)