Mega talks of her successes<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri presented her accountability
\nreport to the People's Consultative Assembly, claiming that she
\nhad established a strong political infrastructure for the new
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
At the opening of the final 1999-2004 Assembly session on
\nThursday, Megawati said that her three-year presidency had
\nstrengthened decentralization, implemented the direct election
\nsystem and built a strong economic basis for the next government.<\/p>\n
She fell short, however, in speaking about the results of the
\nher anti-corruption measures. Corruption was one of the key
\nfactors that triggered the reform movement in 1998.<\/p>\n
"Indonesia in 2004 is much different from what it was in 1998.
\nWe have a stronger constitutional foundation compared to what we
\nhad six years ago," Megawati said.<\/p>\n
She highlighted the peaceful and smooth first direct election
\nin the country that gave birth to a better government.<\/p>\n
"With the direct election, we can expect to see a more
\nresponsive government that will accommodate people's aspirations
\nand needs," the President said.<\/p>\n
Megawati also expressed her gratitude to the people.<\/p>\n
On the decentralization program, the President said that it
\nwas the equivalent of federalism, but was aimed at ensuring the
\npeople's welfare.<\/p>\n
It was likely her last speech in front of the Assembly, at
\nleast for some time, as Megawati has all but officially lost in a
\nlandslide to her former security minister Susilo Bambang
\nYudhoyono.<\/p>\n
Wearing a dark-blue kebaya traditional dress, Megawati read a
\n28-page accountability speech in front of the Assembly at the end
\nof her three-year administration.<\/p>\n
The Assembly will end their tenure on Sept. 30. The new
\nAssembly members will be sworn in on Oct. 1.<\/p>\n
As of Thursday evening, Susilo had maintained his unassailable
\nlead with 61.04 percent to Megawati's 38.96 percent with nearly
\n90 percent of the vote counted. She trails by some 22 million
\nvotes with less than 20 million still to be tallied.<\/p>\n
Megawati, however, did not concede defeat and reiterated that
\neverybody should be patient until the official announcement from
\nthe General Election Commission (KPU) on Oct. 5.<\/p>\n
Megawati urged the upcoming government to be tougher on
\nterrorism, citing the need to develop more effective measures and
\nprocedures to handle it.<\/p>\n
"It is difficult to predict or stop terrorist attacks based on
\nthe existing laws. We should develop more effective procedures to
\nhandle it," she said.<\/p>\n
On the issue of separatism in Aceh and Papua, Megawati said
\nthat her administration had slowly managed to quell the
\nconflicts.<\/p>\n
She emphasized that the security situation in Aceh under the
\nstate of civil emergency was getting better and people could
\nbegin to improve their lives.<\/p>\n
On Papua, the she said the issue surrounding the ruling on the
\nestablishment of new provinces would be resolved in time.<\/p>\n
"For such a vast province as Papua, division into several
\nprovinces is an urgent matter," Megawati said.<\/p>\n
The 2003 Annual Session recommended that she implement the
\ndivision of the province saying that such division should be
\nrecommended by the Papua People's Assembly (MRP), which has to be
\nestablished in one-year time.<\/p>\n
The government has yet to submit the ruling on the
\nestablishment of the MRP to the House of Representatives for
\ndeliberation, saying that the issue should be further examined.<\/p>\n
Several factions at the Assembly have criticized the division
\nplan as it had created clashes among the Papuans.<\/p>\n
At the end of her speech, Megawati admitted her shortcomings
\nin the past three years and apologized for much unfinished
\nbusiness.<\/p>\n
"For the various shortcomings and unfinished matters, along
\nwith the Vice President, I would like to ask for forgiveness from
\nthe Assembly and the Indonesian people that I love," she said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mega-talks-of-her-successes-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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