Pro-Megawati group occupies PDI office

MEDAN, North Sumatra: About 500 supporters of ousted Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) leader Megawati Soekarnoputri, peacefully took over the provincial party's headquarters from the pro-Soerjadi faction Saturday.

"Megawati is PDI's legitimate leader. We are the real owners of this office," said Azwir Matondang, the leader of the pro- Megawati group.

They arrived early in the morning at the office on Jl. Raden Saleh; most were wearing red shorts with a halftone of Megawati.

After gathering in the front yard for several minutes, the crowd strolled into the office where only one or two people were present.

Security officers were on hand but kept a distance as they merely watched the peaceful takeover. A large traffic jam quickly formed as people gathered to watch the "men in red" celebrate the return of their office which they lost in 1996.

"Soerjadi is a political crook, who was supported by the old regime," Matondang emotionally told the crowd.

The gathering quickly became a free-speech forum; it called on President B.J. Habibie to sack newly appointed State Minister of Environment Panangian Siregar.

Panangian, a pro-Soerjadi supporter, was chairman of PDI's North Sumatra chapter before his appointment to the cabinet last month.

"Siregar must be sacked because he was one of the main actors behind the toppling of Megawati in 1996," said Matondang.

Soerjadi ousted Megawati from the PDI leadership in 1996 in a government-backed congress here. (21)