New PDI chief gets govt recognition

JAKARTA (JP): The government has officially recognized Budi Hardjono as the new chairman of the conflict-ridden Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).

Budi was elected to the party's leadership on Wednesday during a congress marred by violent clashes and allegations of political intrigue.

Minister/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung said yesterday in Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi, that the government respected and endorsed the results of the congress held in Palu, Central Sulawesi. He called on the party to consolidate and prepare itself for the general elections scheduled for next year.

He insisted the government had made its stance clear long before the congress began on Tuesday, namely that it would respect all decisions taken at the gathering, including those on the issue of the party's leadership.

"The government accepts the congress results with a hope that PDI will take the necessary steps to consolidate and prepare for the next general election," Akbar was quoted by Antara as saying yesterday.

Akbar is also chairman of Golkar, which was the dominant political organization under former president Soeharto's regime.

The congress elected Budi to replace Soerjadi, who was elected in yet another government-backed congress held in the North Sumatra capital of Medan in 1996. Soerjadi's election forced popular chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri out of the post.

Akbar said the PDI congress had been held in accordance with the party's statute and that Budi won a majority of votes.

Akbar also suggested that Megawati should establish a new political party if she wants to continue to be politically active.

The congress, scheduled to last for five days between Aug. 25 and Aug. 29, was cut short and ended yesterday morning as a result of clashes between supporters loyal to Megawati and those who back Soerjadi. Seventeen people, including five police officers, were injured.

Megawati's aide Soetardjo Soeryogoeritno rejected Budi's election.

"The results of the congress will not make us back down from our stance. We still don't recognize the congress, and we intend to continue (with our struggle) as usual," he was quoted by Antara as saying.

Soetardjo also cold-shouldered Budi's offer of reconciliation with Megawati's camp. "That's only words, the offer has repeatedly been made but never materialized," Soetardjo said.

Soetardjo lashed out at President B.J. Habibie's government, which he said was only a continuation of former president Soeharto's regime.

"You can see that the Armed Forces (ABRI) is still applying old policy by dividing the PDI through this Palu congress just like it did in Medan," he said.

He speculated the attempts were driven by an agenda to prevent the PDI from challenging Golkar's dominant position.

Clashes

Kwik Kian Gie, another Megawati loyalist, said the government should be held responsible for the clashes because it had rigged the congress.

He said that Megawati did not urge her supporters to go to Palu and stage anti-Soerjadi demonstrations in a bid to disrupt the congress.

Meanwhile, Gunawan Wirosaroyo, secretary to the Central Java PDI chapter, said that the Megawati faction would maintain its demand that provincial authorities dismiss pro-Soerjadi PDI branches in the province.

He threatened to call on thousands of Megawati supporters to stage demonstrations until the government met their demand.

Meanwhile, the chief of the Central Sulawesi provincial police, Col. K. Soebono Adi, said Palu had returned to normal following the conclusion of the congress yesterday.

"Palu residents have resumed their activities and all participants in the congress have left the city," Adi said.

He also said the police had confiscated molotov cocktails and would investigate where they came from.

Maj. Gen. Suaidi Marasabessy, chief of the Wirabuana Military Command overseeing Sulawesi, said that at least 18 people are under intensive police investigation for their involvement in the violent scuffles.

He refused to identify the 18, saying they were arrested for possessing molotov cocktails.

"If the police have adequate evidence, they will be brought to court," he said. He did not say where the 18 came from. (byg/har/45/rms)