PDI requests ABRI protection to safeguard June congress

PDI requests ABRI protection to safeguard June congress

JAKARTA (JP): The government-recognized board of the
Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) has formally requested the
protection of the Armed Forces for its June congress.

Board chairman Soerjadi led a delegation to meet yesterday
with ABRI Chief/Minister of Defense and Security Gen. Wiranto at
ABRI headquarters on Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat in Central Jakarta.

He told the minister that security precautions were important
for the congress' success.

While the general underlined ABRI's responsibility to provide
security, he said the PDI board should also do their part by
ensuring a conducive climate, Soerjadi told reporters after the
meeting.

Many of PDI's congresses in the past became unruly, with
brawls between rival politicians and their supporters.

With the party now effectively split between the Soerjadi camp
and that led by Megawati Soekarnoputri, the prospect of more
disturbances in June is real.

Megawati had led the party, an amalgamation of Christian and
nationalist forces, until she was ousted in a congress organized
by rivals who had the support of the military and the government.

The congress elected Soerjadi as party chairman, but the
affair virtually decimated the party, and led to PDI's dismal
showing in the 1997 general election.

Soerjadi declined to mention the exact date and venue for the
next congress. "Just wait for the formal announcement," he said.

Topping the congress' agenda is the election of the party
leaders for the 1998/2003 period.

Meanwhile, Minister of Home Affairs R. Hartono said yesterday
that the PDI executive board should not ignore the aspirations of
party members and supporters.

This included their wishes in the new leadership lineup,
Hartono told media at his office yesterday.

Asked whether the Megawati camp should be involved in the
congress, Hartono said it was a matter for party members to
decide alone.

"We (government) will not interfere with the PDI's internal
affairs," he said.

Hartono said the government would only issue a permit to
Soerjadi's board to hold the congress. "If Megawati applied for a
permit to hold her own congress, we would reject it," he said.
(imn)