PDI chief now allowed to meet party leaders
PDI chief now allowed to meet party leaders
JAKARTA (JP): East Java military authorities gave the green
light yesterday to chief of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI)
Megawati Soekarnoputri to meet with local party leaders.
"If her (Megawati's) intention is to meet with party members,
I have no objection. Why should we ban a meeting," East Java
military chief Maj. Gen. Imam Utomo said in Surabaya yesterday.
The general's statement came only a day after the local
authorities forcefully dispersed a gathering of PDI activists in
Madiun and refused to issue a permit for one in Kediri citing
administrative reasons.
Megawati has been banned from meeting her supporters in East
Java since she was elected in 1993, despite the government's
effort to block her election.
The East Java PDI chapter has been riddled by a leadership
rift, which was deepened recently by the East Java governor
Basofi Sudirman's refusal to recognize Megawati's appointment of
Sutjipto last year.
The provincial government has openly lent its sympathy to the
outgoing PDI chapter chief Latief Pudjosakti, Megawati's critic
and Sutjipto's political foe.
Basofi's strong rejection to allow Megawati to hold
consolidation meetings with local party leaders has earned him
criticism from many quarters.
Imam was quoted by Antara as saying that Megawati and the
governor should resolve their differences before she could meet
her supporters in the province.
"Pak Basofi has so far not replied to her request (for a party
gathering). So they should work to solve their differences," he
said.
On Wednesday, authorities in Madiun broke up a gathering
attended by the party's senior executives from Jakarta and local
party leaders.
Chief of the regency government's sociopolitical affairs
department Sukiyat, who personally came to disperse the
gathering, said that the local government did not permit the
attendance of the executives from Jakarta.
In Kediri, the authorities have refused to issue a permit for
a party conference that will be attended by Megawati, according
to Antara.
Meanwhile, in the Central Java town of Salatiga, 30 youth
activists from nine subdistricts threw their support yesterday
behind Megawati's possible run for the presidency in 1998.
The Salatiga Youths for PDI have sent their petition to the
party's Central Java chapter. Last week, seven PDI branches in
the province urged the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) to
nominate Megawati for president.
Also yesterday, chief of the Surakarta PDI chapter Makyo
Sumaryo -- a Megawati's supporter -- said the time is not right
for her to enter the presidential race because President Soeharto
is still too strong to challenge. (pan)