PDI ready for elections, targets young people

PDI ready for elections, targets young people

SEMARANG (JP): Despite some internal conflicts, the Indonesian
Democratic Party (PDI) is ready to compete in the 1997 general
elections, its chairwoman stated over the weekend.

Megawati Soekarnoputri said in a rally attended by thousands
of PDI supporters here on Friday that one of the targets will be
the 20 million first-time voters. Unfortunately, she said, these
young people are still fearful of expressing their political
aspirations.

"We can see that the youths are afraid to make a political
choice," said the eldest daughter of the first president Sukarno.
"This is a condition that has to be handled."

"PDI has to work very quickly (to approach the
youths)...because the other (political) groupings are bigger,
have more facilities and funds," she said.

"The party, however, is ready, both physically and mentally."

During the occasion, Megawati also called on the East Java
administration to give her full authority to solve leadership
conflicts in the party's branch there.

Megawati said that the conflicts which occurred in PDI's South
Sumatra and South Sulawesi branches were resolved quickly because
the provincial administrations left matters to the party's
central executive board.

"The East Java administration should do the same," said
Megawati to thousands of PDI supporters.

"The conflict could have been resolved earlier if only all
parties had been willing to respect the internal rules of
organizations and had not forced their will on any organization.

"The party executive board has done its best, but whether or
not the effort succeeds will depend on the good will of the East
Java provincial administration," she said.

The PDI's East Java branch currently has two people claiming
to be the rightful chairman. Soetjipto has the backing of the
central executive board, while Latief Pudjosakti reportedly has
the support of both the majority of PDI's local units and the
administration.

East Java Governor Basofi Soedirman has twice attempted to
bring the two to terms of reconciliation, though he failed on
both occasions. However, Megawati and a number of observers
believe that an end could have been put to the conflict if Basofi
had not supported Latief.

A number of difficulties, such as government bans on PDI
meetings, experienced by Megawati and other party executives have
been regarded of proof of the administration's meddling in
internal party affairs.

In the meantime, the PDI is facing the deadline, set for
today, to establish the full lineup of its East Java regional
committee for general elections. Committee chairman Basofi
Soedirman has hinted that, due to the conflicts, he might have to
exclude PDI representatives from the body.

Megawati called on the administration "to allow" the party
branch to consolidate.

"If there hadn't been any meddling we would have been ready to
meet the deadline," she said. (har/swe)