PDIP to convene its own meeting of party leaders

PDIP to convene its own meeting of party leaders

JAKARTA (JP): Officials from the Indonesian Democratic Party
of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) said on Tuesday they would convene a
meeting of political party leaders, with July 15 identified as
the most likely date.

PDI Perjuangan Secretary General Soetjipto claimed that all
political party leaders had stated their willingness to attend
the planned meeting.

"The meeting will be held around July 15, and its purpose is
to create a sense of togetherness between political parties ahead
of the special session," Soetjipto said, referring to the
People's Consultative Assembly special session set to start on
Aug. 1.

The latest announcement comes on the heels of a similarly
planned gathering of political leaders hosted by President
Abdurrahman Wahid on Monday.

But Abdurrahman's meeting was a dismal failure, as only
National Awakening Party chairman Matori Abdul Djalil arrived at
Bogor Palace to attend it.

Political consultations and dialog have heated up in the past
few weeks as the special session draws near.

Abdurrahman has warned that if the special session goes ahead
with its intention to seek a presidential accountability, he
would declare a state of emergency and dissolve the legislature.

If a political compromise is not found in the coming three
weeks, the special session could see the end of Abdurrahman's
administration, with Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri next
in line to take up the presidency.

Absent

But aides close to Megawati revealed that the PDI Perjuangan
chairwoman herself might not attend the meeting of political
leaders convened by her party.

The aide said it was important to avoid a public misperception
that she might be compromised and politically indebted to other
parties, should she assume the presidency a few weeks later.

"Ibu Megawati is also the Vice President, so it would be
inappropriate for her to come to such meeting. However, the
possibility of holding it is still open," the party's deputy
secretary general Agnita Singadikane Irsal told The Jakarta Post.

She further contended that it was important for Megawati to
preserve her public image and maintain political stability in the
country, thus it would be difficult for her to come to the
meeting of political party leaders.

Meanwhile, PDI Perjuangan deputy chairman Mangara Siahaan said
that the main items on the agenda of the meeting would likely be
power-sharing between the political parties and also the
selection of possible candidates for the vice presidential seat.

"There is an intention to start talking about power-sharing
ahead of the special session," Mangara told journalists after the
party's weekly meeting.

However, he refused to say if the meeting was also designed to
cement support for Megawati's ascent.

"It is up to the political party leaders whether they want to
support Megawati or not," he asserted.

He also announced that the party would convene a national
working meeting for three days, starting on Thursday in the
capital.

"The working meeting would be to discuss the party's stance at
the coming special session and to brief all branches across the
country on anticipatory steps to be taken after the special
session," Mangara said.

He further underlined that the meeting would stress the
importance of maintaining solidarity during the special session.

"I can assure you, if it concerns Megawati becoming president,
none of the party's members will reject that, because it was the
outcome of our congresses in Bali and Semarang that Megawati be
our candidate for the presidency," Mangara remarked. (dja)