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)