Observers gloomy about Megawati's case against govt

JAKARTA (JP): Political observer Marsilam Simanjuntak says he's pessimistic about ousted Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) leader Megawati Soekarnoputri's chances if she presses ahead with her plan to sue the government for endorsing a rival camp.

"She's facing the undefeatable power of the state," Simanjuntak told The Jakarta Post here on Saturday. "Indonesian law is merely a tool for the state and the government."

"Her lawsuits will not yield any significant result for her campaign," he predicted.

Megawati's lawyers have earlier stated that the embattled party chief would sue Armed Forces Commander Gen. Feisal Tanjung, Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M. and National Police Chief Lt. Gen. Dibyo Widodo for endorsing the recent rebel congress in Medan, North Sumatra, which resulted in the election of Soerjadi as rival chairman.

The three officials above have stated their readiness to meet Megawati in court.

"Megawati and her supporters don't have enough power to deal with the whole state's power," Simanjuntak said, citing the readiness of the three officials as an ominous sign.

Simanjuntak said he believed that in the deepening rift within the minority party, both Megawati and Soerjadi were actually only victims of a greater political scheme. He said the real combatants are the state and the people.

"The people are the grassroots supporters of Megawati," he said.

Separately, chairman of the Union of the Indonesian Catholic Students (PMKRI) Antonius Donny criticized the government for its interference in the PDI's internal rift.

"Let the PDI settle its own internal problems, without outside parties meddling," Antonius said in a statement.

A similar call was made by political observer Fachry Ali from the Jakarta-based LP3ES research center who said that only "reconciliation" could solve the rift in the party.

"If only Megawati and Soerjadi, who both claim to be the legitimate leaders, would sit down together and reconcile, the problems of the PDI would be solved easily," he was quoted by Antara as saying in Medan on Saturday.

"Megawati needs to consider this option if she wants to protect the party's unity," he said.

He said that the reconciliation should result in a central executive board which includes Megawati. "She has the charisma of her father, the late Bung Karno, and she has great support from the grassroots. Soerjadi is supported by many party executives," he said.

Megawati is the eldest daughter of Indonesia's first president Sukarno. (16/swe)