PDI 'reconciliation' efforts a failure, Budi Hardjono says

JAKARTA (JP): The government-sanctioned chairman of the splintered Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), Budi Hardjono, said on Thursday that he has brought to an end his self-initiated effort to reconcile his camp with that of popular opposition figure Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Budi said the split in the party appeared to be terminal.

"Yes, I can let go. Reconciliation is not possible. We'll just go our separate ways," Budi was quoted by Antara as saying.

Budi spoke to journalists after meeting with the Ministry of Home Affairs' director general for social and political affairs, Maj. Gen. Dunidja. The meeting was to formally thank the government for assisting his faction hold a congress on Aug. 25 and Aug. 26 in the Central Sulawesi town of Palu.

He was accompanied by Buttu Hutapea, the secretary general of his faction in the party.

Budi replaced Soerjadi as party chairman in the Palu congress.

The congress was marred by brawls between supporters of the party's rival factions and was so chaotic it had to be cut short to two days from four days initially planned.

Shortly after his appointment last month, Budi tried to win back Megawati's support. He even visited Megawati's close friend, the popular Moslem leader Abdurrahman Wahid, to seek his help in bringing about a reconciliation. Abdurrahman rebuffed his advances.

A desperate Budi said on Thursday that the PDI had long been known as a troubled party. "It's a natural thing (in this country's politics)," he said.

Budi's open remarks about his stance on the PDI rift come six days ahead of a three-day congress planned by the party faction loyal to Megawati. The congress, which is to be held in Bali, is set to begin on Oct. 8.

Budi said that Megawati's congress was no concern of his, pointing out that his camp had already held its own congress.

Preparations for Megawati's congress are gathering momentum, with more and more supporters from across the country announcing on Thursday that they would send delegations to Bali.

Antara reported that delegations of Megawati supporters have already arrived in Bali from Irian Jaya, East Timor, East Nusa Tenggara and Riau. All delegations have said they intend to renominate Megawati in the party leadership election.

Quoting the deputy secretary of the Bali chapter loyal to Megawati, Sarwa Kabiana, the news agency said the delegations arrived on Wednesday and that more, including those from Java and South Sumatra, would follow shortly. Chapters from the island of Java and from South Sumatra are expected to send the biggest delegations to the congress.

Sarwa called on delegations from Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, East Java, Yogyakarta and South Sumatra to watch over their supporters and guard against them being provoked into violence while the congress is being held.

Organizers have estimated that the congress will be attended by around 50,000 people.

On Thursday, Bali Police chief Brig. Gen. H. Gunawan said he would deploy 2,000 officers backed by an additional 400 soldiers to secure the event. The event's organizers have also recruited 1,000 civilian guards to safeguard the congress. (har/aan)