Why must Megawati be blocked?

Why must Megawati be blocked?

From Republika

First of all, let me make it clear that I am no sympathizer of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan). Second, I am a Muslim. However, after reading Republika daily of June 10 and June 11, 1999, I felt called upon to express my opinion. An article on page 7 (June 10) entitled To block Megawati... made me curious why PDI Perjuangan chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri should be blocked. Is it because her party nominates more non-Muslim legislative candidates than Muslim ones? Or is because Megawati's party should be suspected because it brings together personnel of the Old Order as well as the New Order, as suggested by Prof. Dr. H. Imam Suprayogo?

In my opinion, if PDI Perjuangan wins the election, it is always possible to approach the party so that it will place more Muslim legislative candidates. An open letter by Kwik Kian Gie published in Republika some time ago assured that this was not impossible to do. According to Kwik, PDI Perjuangan also has a lot of Muslim legislative candidates. What about the personnel of the Old Order and the New Order now joining PDI Perjuangan? That they are there is a fact but, of course, their percentage in the party's overall membership is small. I believe that although they used to belong to the Old Order or the New Order, they have changed into reformists. Many of them have realized their mistakes and become reform-minded, haven't they?

MRS. S. WALUYO

Jakarta