New PDI chief gets govt recognition

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)