Jakarta – The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the party which obtained the largest votes at the last general elections, says it has no intention to mobilize the masses no matter what the result of the presidential election on October 20 as non-violence has become its policy.

"Our non-violent policy has been stated by our Chairperson [Megawati Soekarnoputri] at her recent political speech that PDI Perjuangan will not allow even a drop of blood to be shed by the people," Kwik Kian Gie, a PDI-P leader told a press conference yesterday.

Some political analysts have expressed pessimism that Megawati will be elected as the fourth Indonesian president although her party collected the largest number of votes (34%) at the June 7 general election.

This has also been prompted by the fact that during the first round of the general session of the People's Consultative Assembly, PDI-P failed to obtain support from other parties.

PDI-P lost in all posts contested for at the DPR/MPR, as the smaller parties grouped with the Axis Forces, in electing the speakers for the MPR and the DPR respectiely.

Some analysts have expressed anxiety that PDI-P supporters may not be able to accept the results of the presidential election if Megawati fails to become the president.

Kwik stressed Megawati has expressed the non-violent policy of the party not only to the Indonesian people, but also when she delivered her speech in front of foreign diplomats and other members of the international community. "Ibu [Mrs.] Megawati always tells foreign guests who she meets that she is against violence," Kwik stressed.

Kwik also said that all PDI-P leaders have given an undertaking to their supporters that leaders of the party would work all out for Megawati's presidential bid. "But it we lose at the presidential election, [we will explain to them], it is democracy," Kwik added.

Supporting Kwik's statement, the Chairman of the PDI Faction at the MPR, Sutjipto said that mass mobilization will never become the party's policy. Instead party leaders will attempt to seek an understanding from members should Megawati fail in her bid for the presidency.

Recognising that it could be an emotional issue should Megawati be defeated, Sutjipto, who is chairman of the East Java PDI Chapter, one of the party's strongholds, added: "We have never discussed mass mobilization. Our policy is controlling our supporters' emotions because as stated by Pak Kwik, it is a principle that has been expressed by our chairperson."

Sutjipto was confident that PDI-P supporters would understand the explanation of its leaders. "Luckily, our supporters usually follow what has been expressed by our chairperson," he said.