Soerjadi's PDI ponders reconciliation

Soerjadi's PDI ponders reconciliation

JAKARTA (JP): Smarting from its general election defeat, the
Soerjadi-led Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) has offered a
reconciliation with PDI rival faction led by Megawati
Soekarnoputri.

PDI secretary-general Buttu Hutapea said a national dialog
with Megawati, as well as other party potentials, could help the
party reach some compromises before next year's party congress.

"We propose a dialog after hearing suggestions from many
public figures, political experts and the government who all want
to see the PDI unite.

"We realize that we gain nothing from this continuing
antagonism," Buttu said.

He said the dialog could run for 11 months if necessary,
adding that during the talks both sides could set a date for next
year's congress, in which party members would elect their
chairperson for the 1998/2003 period.

"It can be held in August, September or any other time
depending on the agreement between us, as long as it accommodates
all potentials of the party," Buttu said.

"Everybody will be happy if the future party leader is elected
by all factions within the party."

The government-recognized leadership of PDI had set the
congress for June, but Megawati supporters want to make it in
December.

Buttu said he doubted that separate congresses could solve the
problems the party faces.

Megawati was elected party chairwoman by popular support in
December 1993 in place of Soerjadi.

But a breakaway, government-backed congress in June last year
toppled her and reinstated Soerjadi in the top post.

Rifts between the two factions boiled over with the forceful
takeover of the party's headquarters, which sparked bloody riots
in July 27 last year. At least five people were killed and 23 are
still missing from the incident.

The internal bickering severely affected the party in the May
29 general election.

PDI managed to attain only 3 percent of the vote. The tiny
number of votes gave it just 11 House of Representatives seats, a
sharp drop from the 56 seats it gained in the 1992 election.

Buttu said it would be impossible to hold a joint congress if
both sides refused to talk and reach agreement on the terms of
the congress.

"Such a congress would only be filled with rude words. We can
only prompt a joint congress after the two factions give signs of
compromise," he said.

Megawati has filed hundreds of lawsuits against Soerjadi and
the government for her dismissal, with Bekasi and Riau district
courts favoring her.

Her legal battle received another boost last week when the
Jakarta High Court ruled that the Central Jakarta District Court
could hear her lawsuit against Soerjadi. (amd)