Yogie denies ban on Megawati in E. Java
Yogie denies ban on Megawati in E. Java
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Home Affairs Moch Yogie S.M.
yesterday denied allegations that Megawati Soekarnoputri, the
chairperson of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), has become
a persona non-grata in East Java.
"Who said that? It's a lie," Yogie told reporters after
attending a hearing at the House of Representatives.
Yogie pointed out that Megawati visited Kediri last week to
see the laying of the first stone of PDI's office in the East
Java city. "Does that look like she's been banned to you?"
He was responding to press reports saying that Megawati has
been prevented from meeting with her supporters in East Java.
The PDI chairperson has been trying to install the chairman of
the party's chapter in East Java for the past month but has been
unable to do so because authorities in Surabaya declined to issue
a permit for such a gathering.
A number of other cities in the province have also barred
Megawati from addressing her supporters, saying that her presence
would further fuel the conflict between party members who support
her leadership and those who reject her.
Yogie promised to help PDI resolve its problems. "A father has
to help his child," he said underlining his role as the chief
supervisor of all political organizations.
He added that he plans to talk with East Java Governor Basofi
Soedirman and Armed Forces Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung to discuss
the PDI issue in the very near future.
Yogie was also asked about his policy regarding the Marhaen
People's Movement, an organization first established by
Megawati's father, the late president Sukarno.
Yogie said Marhaen was not recognized the first time around
because it failed to state Pancasila as the organization's
ideology.
Marhaen leaders, including another of Sukarno's daughters
Sukmawati Soekarnoputri, last week complained that the
organization could not function properly without government
recognition.
They also said that Marhaen has adopted Pancasila as its
ideology.
Yogie said if that was the case, then the organization could
refile for registration. (emb)