Soerjadi's men run half naked

SEMARANG: Ten youths loyal to Soerjadi, the government- recognized chief of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), who took to the streets waving PDI banners yesterday were stripped of their party T-shirts by Megawati loyalists.

The youths were outnumbered by the supporters of Megawati Soekarnoputri, who had led the party until a government-backed rebel party conference last year.

After seizing the red, bull's head T-shirts, the Megawati loyalists ordered the youths to go home and never publicly support Soerjadi again.

The shirt-less youths left obediently.

"We'd better run away half naked than risk being attacked... we didn't want to go home black and blue," said Martono, one of the 10 youths who claimed allegiance to both Soerjadi and Megawati. (har/pan)