Sukarno supporter revives Indonesian Nationalist Party

JAKARTA (JP): Former president Sukarno's Indonesian Nationalist Party (PNI) was officially revived yesterday in Yogyakarta by one of his veteran supporters, Supeni.

Sunarka, the party's secretary-general, strongly insisted that the party was the continuation of PNI which was founded by Sukarno 18 years before he declared the country's independence in 1945.

Sunarka insisted PNI has no connection with the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), and that both were totally independent of each other despite the historic relationship.

"PNI is PNI, PDI is PDI," Sunarka asserted.

During the presidency of Sukarno PNI played a dominant role in Indonesian politics.

During the 1955 elections, PNI acquired the highest number of votes.

Then, in 1973, PNI merged with Christian, Catholic and some smaller parties to become PDI.

In 1993, Sukarno's eldest daughter, Megawati Soekarnoputri, was elected to chair PDI.

However she was ousted in a government-backed congress in June 1996 and replaced by Soerjadi.

Supeni, a member of the original PNI and chairwoman of the new organization, said Megawati would be welcome to take over the leadership from her at anytime if she wished to return to her father's party.

"If Megawati is ready to lead PNI we will be very happy because we respect her as Sukarno's daughter," the 80-year-old politician said.

Supeni, once Sukarno's close ally, was elected the party's chairwoman during its two-day congress which ended yesterday.

She had established the Indonesian Unity Party last month, which she described as the embryo of the newly reestablished PNI.

Sunarka claimed the congress was attended by participants from 18 provinces and would soon open branches in all provinces. (23/44/prb)