PDI anniversary in Senayan

JAKARTA (JP): Organizers are expecting that more than 120,000 members and participants will flock the 27th anniversary of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) on Jan. 27 afternoon at the Senayan Main Stadium in Central Jakarta, an executive said on Thursday.

"President Abdurrahman Wahid and Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri will attend the anniversary," organizing chairman Pantas Nainggolan said at City Council.

Megawati is the incumbent chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), a breakaway faction of PDI which was established on Feb. 14, 1999, just a few days before the registration deadline for the June 1999 general election ended.

Nainggolan, also a councilor of PDI Perjuangan faction, said the committee also invited leaders of other political parties, foreign diplomats, cabinet ministers, and other state officials to the ceremony.

"We have received permission from the City Police to hold the ceremony," he said, while citing that more than 100,000 PDI Perjuangan's task force members would also help secure the procession.

"We will stage traditional dances from Aceh and songs from Ambon, in addition to Megawati's political speech. We will also perform East Timorese dances as a farewell bid," he said. (05)