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