Unity toward election

Unity toward election

From Gatra

A number of Jakarta newspapers reported recently on Megawati Soekarnoputri's plan to submit her problems within her party, the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), to the international court.

I am disappointed at her decision. Involving the international court in her case will bring a number of negative impacts on Indonesia.

a. The international community will evaluate that Indonesia's legal system is very bad because an Indonesian citizen chooses to present her problems at the international court.

b. The problems faced by Megawati are connected with her forcible removal from the PDI chairmanship. A problem that should be an internal one within the party, will be known by international circles. It may give rise to a negative evaluation of the democratic system of parties in Indonesia.

c. The international world will evaluate that Indonesia is not yet able to solve various problems on its own country so it will influence political, economic, social, cultural, defense and security matters of the Indonesian state. d. The opinion, both here and abroad, that the laws in force in Indonesia are no longer in accordance with the laws in international circles because (possibly) they are replete with collusion, corruption and various forms of bribery, which result in biased decisions.

I strongly hope that Megawati is willing to:

Postpone her plan to go to the international court. Megawati has strong charisma. If the decision by the international court is not in her favor, it will harm her reputation as a prominent figure in society.

Find peaceful ways to settle the conflict within the party. In May, we will have our general election. It would be a good thing if before the election the problems within the PDI will have been solved so as not to disturb the election.

Endeavor to coax her sympathizers to unite with Soerjadi followers to make a success of the 1997 general election. What will become of the PDI if its sympathizers are divided into two camps? Certainly it will not gain a victory, it will rather suffer an absolute defeat.

So, if Megawati still cares for the PDI, she should not see her problems in an irrational light and try to mobilize forces to defeat Soerjadi. All that will be in vain. It will only take much time and energy and it will not result in something of significance.

DIAH MUSTIKA SARI

Jakarta