JP\/4\/Ambition
\nPut aside personal ambitions
\nPut aside presidential ambitions<\/p>\n
Kornelius Purba
\nStaff Writer
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
Despite Indonesia's explosive political and economic
\nsituation, President Megawati Soekarnoputri will likely become
\none of the most enthusiastic leaders to attend the 21-member Asia
\nPacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shanghai on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Amid nationwide protests, some involving violence, against the
\nU.S-British attacks on Afghanistan, the President is determined
\nto depart for China on Wednesday for a five-day visit there.<\/p>\n
Even one day before her departure, she was scheduled to attend
\nthe routine weekly meeting of the Indonesian Democratic Party of
\nStruggle (PDI Perjuangan) instead of chairing a Cabinet meeting.<\/p>\n
After a brief stopover to inaugurate a project in Batam, the
\nPresident and her entourage will fly to Hong Kong and stay there
\nfor two nights. State Protocol Chief Rachmat Ranudiwidjaja
\nexplained that her stay in Hong Kong was intended to give the
\nPresident an opportunity to prepare for the APEC Leaders Meeting
\n(AELM).<\/p>\n
Of course, her senior aides, like State\/Cabinet Secretary
\nBambang Kesowo, will quickly defend the visit to China, including
\nher two-day stay in Hong Kong, as strategically important for
\nIndonesia's survival. Furthermore, it will be stated that the
\nvisit to China was scheduled long before the Sept. 11 tragedy.<\/p>\n
There is no doubt that the APEC summit is very important,
\nalthough most of its decisions are practically non-binding in
\nnature. Indonesia is a prominent APEC member.<\/p>\n
But Megawati, as with all world leaders, should alter her
\npriorities following Sept. 11.<\/p>\n
In Shanghai, the President will again meet with U.S. President
\nGeorge W. Bush, whom she met in Washington last month. She had
\nearlier expressed her support for U.S. efforts to curb terrorism,
\nbut avoided commenting about possible attacks on Afghanistan.<\/p>\n
In the planned second meeting with Bush, Megawati should send
\na strong message for domestic consumption rather than for the
\ninternational community.<\/p>\n
International terrorism will again become the focus of the
\nsummit. Chinese President Jiang Zemin has reportedly sent a
\npersonal letter to APEC leaders, telling them that they are
\nexpected to sign an anti-terrorism agreement at the summit.
\nThe agreement will cover joint efforts to drum up aviation and
\nport security and curb the financing of terrorism.<\/p>\n
But what can Megawati bring home from Shanghai as her gift to
\nIndonesia in resolving the country's unending crises?<\/p>\n
Following the U.S.-British strikes on Afghanistan, most
\nIndonesian leaders have totally changed tactics, at least in
\npublic. Megawati's potential rivals have now seemed to opt for
\nsilence, avoiding any blunder on the way to the 2004 presidential
\nelection.<\/p>\n
Politicians ranging from People's Consultative Assembly (MPR)
\nSpeaker Amien Rais to the fault-finding House of Representatives
\nSpeaker Akbar Tandjung, have suddenly adopted Megawati's
\ncustomary silence as a recipe for self-protection in these
\npolitically sensitive moments, as rallies continue against the
\nU.S.-led attacks.<\/p>\n
Criticizing the U.S. and western countries too strongly may
\nalso cost them dearly. Those countries can easily group such
\nleaders outside their category of friends, while support is
\nessential for their political future.<\/p>\n
Within Indonesia, they may have to pay too dear a price if
\nthey fail to appease angry anti-American groups.<\/p>\n
Even Vice President Hamzah Haz, who after the terrorists
\nattacks on the U.S. rebuked the superpower, now refrains from
\ncommenting on the Afghan crisis, following complaints from the
\nWest, including U.S. President George W. Bush.<\/p>\n
This time Hamzah must show leadership as part of the ruling
\ncoalition government. If he is too \"soft\" he will face resistance
\nfrom his United Development Party (PPP), while a harsh position
\nagainst the West might harm his chances in the 2004 presidential
\nrace.<\/p>\n
After his failure to win the vice presidential post in July,
\nthe cautious Akbar has announced his presidential candidacy.
\nWhile urging the government to adopt a tougher stance against the
\nU.S., Akbar also opposed calls to cut ties with the superpower.
\nAlso the Golkar Party chairman, Akbar only vaguely warned against
\ndestructive protests against the U.S..<\/p>\n
Amien, who has also disclosed his candidacy, is also reluctant
\nto address the media. He may still remember that his statement
\nover the clashes in Ambon during a rally at the Monas square
\nearly last year had disappointed many, including those from
\nforeign countries.<\/p>\n
Look at the Cabinet, as well as senior officers within the
\nIndonesian Military (TNI) and the National Police. Coordinating
\nMinister for Political and Security Affairs Gen. (ret) Susilo
\nBambang Yudhoyono is trying to please everybody, including the
\ndemonstrators, through his cryptic statements. He impressed many
\nin July with his elegant defeat in the vice presidential
\nelection. Many regard him as another potential candidate for
\n2004.<\/p>\n
TNI Commander Admiral Widodo A.S. is also hesitant. Widodo
\nturned 57 this year. Mandatory retirement for military service is
\n55 unless permission for an extension of service up to the age of
\n60 is obtained from the President.<\/p>\n
Army Chief of Staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto does not want
\nproblems with the majority, the Muslims. He is the strongest
\ncandidate to replace Widodo this year.<\/p>\n
National Police Chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro, who soon turns
\n56, has tried to harden the police position against illegal
\ndemonstrations. He is working slowly, also probably looking for a
\npossible extension of his tenure by the President.<\/p>\n
For now, they seem to agree that silence is golden --
\nregardless of the suffering of the nation.<\/p>",
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