Megawati's game plan: divide and conquer

10 April 2004, 18:00 PM

The Straits Times/ ANN, Jakarta

The palace is plotting. With her political life on the edge as her party teeters on the brink of defeat, President Megawati Sukarnoputri is fighting back with a game plan to keep the top job and destroy her foes in the July presidential election.This involves building a broad alliance led by the Indonesian Democratic Party - Struggle (PDI-P) that will include members of the Golkar, the Nadhlatul Ulama (NU) and Islamic-based parties such as the United Development Party and Crescent Star Party.

The two Islamic parties are represented in Ms Megawati's administration currently.

Dubbed 'demolition strategy' by PDI-P diehards, the main aim is to drive a wedge in both Golkar and NU by roping in key figures of both organisations.