Military offers PDI helping hand

Military offers PDI helping hand

JAKARTA (JP): Armed Forces (ABRI) Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung has offered to help the rift-ridden Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) solve its notorious internal bickering.

Gen. Feisal made the suggestion on Thursday when meeting with PDI top leaders at his office to discuss the latest development in the political crisis within the minority party.

Deputy PDI chairman Soetardjo Sorjogoeritno told reporters after the meeting that Feisal reiterated that the government did not mean to interfere in the party's internal affairs.

Soetardjo said that the PDI officials led by party chairperson Megawati Sukarnoputri briefed the ABRI commander about the party's programs and its efforts to resolve its problems.

He said Megawati specifically mentioned issues surrounding the recent "disappearance" of PDI secretary general Alex Litaay, which triggered widespread speculation about involvement of some ABRI individuals in the incident. The Armed Forces has flatly denied the report.

Alex disappeared for four days last month. Alex has so far declined to explain to the public about what actually happened to him during those days.

But some PDI leaders said he was abducted by PDI rebels under Jusuf Merukh, who has set up a rival board to challenge Megawati. Jusuf claimed that Alex joined his camp. But Alex has denied it and vowed allegiance to the democratically-elected Megawati.

In his latest maneuver Jusuf plans to set up his local executive boards throughout the Central Java Province, but the local military chief opposes the move and stressed that the government recognizes only Megawati's leadership.

The intervention of a number of senior military officials helped unblocked the PDI congress in December 1993 and paved the way for the election of Megawati to the helm of the party.(29)