PDI public forums defended as legitimate

PDI public forums defended as legitimate

JAKARTA (JP): Observers are applauding the supporters of
ousted Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) leader Megawati
Soekarnoputri for vowing to continue their public forums despite
the military's campaign to have them stopped.

Political observer Arbi Sanit and human rights campaigner
Hendardi have agreed that the forums are a legal arena through
which Megawati supporters can express their political
aspirations. "It's an effective means for them," Arbi said.

Arbi, a staff lecturer at the University of Indonesia's School
of Social and Political Sciences, said the forums were "fair
compensation" for the government's and the military's support for
Soerjadi, Megawati's rival.

"The Armed Forces shouldn't have tried to ban the free speech
forums...the move will tarnish the Armed Forces' image further,"
Arbi said.

The government and the military last month backed the PDI
rebel congress in Medan, North Sumatra, which toppled Megawati
and elected Soerjadi as the new PDI chairman.

This caused waves of demonstrations in several cities which
were supported mostly by young people and activists of non-
governmental organizations. One protest in Jakarta, which
involved 8,000 Megawati supporters, ended in a clash with
security forces, leaving dozens injured.

After this incident on June 20, the Jakarta regional military
command and Megawati's camp made an agreement: the Megawati
supporters would no longer take to the streets if the military
allowed them to hold free meetings at the party's headquarters at
number 58, Jl. Diponegoro, Central Jakarta.

The supporters have basically adhered to the agreement,
although they have on several occasions taken to the streets in
protest. They normally gather at the party's headquarters to sing
patriotic songs, listen to speeches, wave placards and unfurl
banners critical of the government and the military.

On Saturday, Armed Forces Chief for Sociopolitical Affairs Lt.
Gen. Syarwan Hamid said the meetings should be stopped because
the speeches at them indicated a campaign to overthrow the
government.

"There seem to be efforts to garner forces to revolt," Antara
quoted him as saying. "The activities in the forums have showed
signs of violating the law. The forums are illegal."

He cited the call for a major three-day strike, which occurred
in Surabaya, as an example of such violations.

"The Armed Forces want these activities to stop," he said,
adding that the National Police and the Attorney General's office
would be the agencies responsible for stopping the forums.

"But please stop before any legal action is taken," he said.
"The Armed Forces don't see the free forum activists as enemies."

Several politically well-connected youth organizations,
including Pemuda Pancasila and Pemuda Panca Marga, are also
demanding that the forums stop.

Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno, a Megawati loyalist, said that
Megawati supporters' activities were still "normal" and
acceptable. And all activities were held spontaneously by
supporters. They were not organized by Megawati's central board.

Separately, Hendardi said the public meetings should be seen
as a legal means for Megawati supporters to fight the party's
rebel executives.

"It's the only available way for them to settle the party's
crisis since the government has cut off formal channels, namely
through the parliament," he said in a statement yesterday.

"Those speeches show that Megawati is gaining even greater
support from the majority of PDI grassroots members...while
Soerjadi only enjoys the support of the government and the Armed
Forces, not the PDI members," he said.

The party activists supporting Soerjadi said yesterday that
they were in a process of "consolidation" by holding regional
chapter conferences.

The chairman of the Central Kalimantan chapter of PDI,
Metropole B. Djanguk, said over the weekend that his chapter was
organizing a series of special conferences among local branches.
The meetings were meant to "disseminate the results of the Medan
congress," he said.

"The special conferences are needed to disseminate the results
of the Medan congress, to establish uniform perception among
local party functionaries," Metropole was quoted by Antara as
saying in Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan, on Saturday.

Metropole, who led the Central Kalimantan delegation to the
Medan congress, said the special conferences were also to prepare
lists of PDI candidate legislators for next year's general
election.

In Bandung, West Java, some 200 Megawati supporters tried, but
failed, to attend a public forum at Gasibu Park. Hundreds of
security officers prevented them from assembling in the park and
at the PDI chapter office in Jl. Soekarno-Hatta. Security
personnel arrested six of the activists. (imn/17/16)