PDI congress

PDI congress

Contrary to what the government has repeatedly announced, that
is, that it will not interfere with the Indonesian Democratic
Party's internal affairs and will leave the settlement of the
party's prolonged conflict to its members; it ultimately issued a
permit for Soerjadi to hold a congress in Palu this week. Not
only that, Minister of Home Affairs Syarwan Hamid on behalf of
President B.J. Habibie was scheduled to open the controversial
event. This obviously shows that the present government, renowned
to be reformative in nature and actions, publicly and openly
sides with one of the two rival groups -- Soerjadi's side.

Although it has been said that no special protection would be
accorded to the participants of the congress, at least 1,000
police officers will be deployed to safeguard the gathering. This
is not counting the money (to be) provided by the local and
central administrations to make the event happen and the airfare
for Syarwan Hamid. In this time of economic turmoil in which an
increasing number of people are suffering from a shortage of
money to buy food, this is certainly a staggering exhibition of
power, arrogance, supremacy and financial establishment on the
part of the government.

As the rift between the two Indonesian Democratic Party sides
has not been settled, while holding a congress is a far cry from
solving the conflict and will not lead to a settlement, issuing
Soerjadi a permit, opening his congress and safeguarding it means
meddling in the party's internal affairs. And doing so by siding
with one group will certainly incite anger from the other side.
This anger, which could lead to disruption and riots, is
inevitable as Megawati's side has appealed and warned the
government not to grant a permit to Soerjadi's minimally
supported congress.

However, although resistance to the congress and support for
Megawati has widely and successively flowed both from Megawati's
supporters and the public, the government doesn't seem to pay
heed. Both Soerjadi and the government keep going on with their
plans and political maneuvers, stubbornly ignoring the public.

By way of contrast, the government has threatened to take firm
action against any party that tries to disrupt the gathering,
especially that from Megawati's side. Such an approach was
commonly used in the Soeharto regime.

Being present at the gathering, Syarwan and other government
officials will have to be safeguarded. And if the event is
disrupted, especially by Megawati's supporters, their actions
will be used as a means to dole out legitimate punishment. And if
Megawati's supporters do disrupt the congress, let alone harm
anybody, the government will have more ammunition and power to
topple or defame Megawati.

They forget that Megawati never asks anyone, let alone her
cadres and supporters, to make trouble.

Any such action would come from her sympathizers who volunteer
to do and initiate such things. These individuals empowered by
sympathy, loyalty and desperation would do anything to disrupt
the congress and stop participants from attending. Despite their
financial constraints, they have organized themselves without
Megawati's knowledge to obstruct participants from entering the
quarters of the congress and have gone to Palu to do so. They are
reportedly ready to die for Megawati.

The government should be held responsible for any disturbance
during the controversial congress.

MATIAS SINAGA

Surabaya, East Java