More retired servicemen join Megawati's PDI camp
JAKARTA (JP): As the Megawati Soekarnoputri faction of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) continues to prepare for its planned party congress in Bali, more retired Armed Forces (ABRI) officers and national figures have joined and pledged their support for the ousted leader.
Three hundred new PDI members, including 161 retired officers of the Navy's elite Marine Corps, three high-ranking retired Army officers, and dozens of businesspeople and noted figures, were installed in a ceremony held at the party's headquarters in Lenteng Agung subdistrict, South Jakarta.
They included freedom fighters for Indonesian independence in 1945 Lt. Gen. (ret) Pamoe Rahardjo, four retired Marine brigadier-generals -- Joko Supriadi, Zainal Rasad, Abdul Majid and R.G.M. Soegiharto -- chairman of the Indonesian Communion of Churches Eka Darma Putra and Hasyim Wahid of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Moslem organization.
Also installed on Saturday were lawyer Amin Aryoso, businessman Meilono Suwondo and Agus Hari Subagio, and former secretary-general of the Golkar-affiliated MKGR Youths organization Imam Nusanto.
Present at the ceremony were Roeslan Abdoelgani, a former government advisor on the Pancasila ideology, former student activist Julius Usman, film star and PDI official Sophan Sophiaan. Eka Darma Putra said in the ceremony that PDI was far from a strange name for him.
"I voted for PDI ever since its establishment in 1973. I only missed one, the 1997 general election, when I punched for all the three election contestants -- Golkar, PDI, and the United Development Party (PPP)," he said, referring to how many people disenchanted with the available three choices reportedly spoiled their ballots.
Pamoe Rahardjo said he had long supported Megawati's political struggle, but stressed that it was only now that he could join her party. A number of retired generals have said retired officers and family members of active members should no longer be tied to the ruling Golkar party.
The chairman of the PDI's Jakarta chapter loyal to Megawati, Roy B.B. Janis, said PDI should have the courage to nominate its party chairperson in the presidential election next year. "It's not because we'll nominate our leader Megawati, but this should be considered as a breakthrough in the country's political system."
"It's been more than 30 years that the country has never had more than one presidential candidate and the then president Soeharto remain unchallenged in the past six elections," he said.
On the possibility of establishing a new party name to replace the 25-year old PDI, Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno, deputy chairman of the splintered PDI leadership said that Megawati would not replace her party's name at the upcoming Bali congress.
The authorities have said they will grant a permit to the congress only if the name PDI is not used, as the government only recognizes the leadership of Budi Hardjono.
Soetardjo said after attending the installment of Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X as the new Yogyakarta governor that the congress discussions would include the party's strategy to win the general election scheduled for May next year.
Support for the Bali congress continues to pour in.
In Semarang, Megawati supporters have already hoisted the party's red banners and flags throughout the city.
The banners, inscribed with "Bless the Bali congress", and thousands of pictures of Megawati and her father, the late president Sukarno, have also been seen in the city's streets.
Local leader of Megawati's faction, Ismojo Subroto, said locals have also provided free transportation for people intending to attend the congress. Hundreds of supporters departed for Bali Saturday from Medan, North Sumatra. (44/har/21/byg/imn)