Mega 'too busy' for Habibie invitation<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Opposition figure Megawati Soekarnoputri has
\ndeclined several recent invitations to meet President B.J.
\nHabibie, Minister\/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung said yesterday.<\/p>\n
The President had invited Megawati in her capacity as one of
\nthe country's most prominent leaders and a daughter of the
\ncountry's first president, Sukarno, Akbar added.<\/p>\n
Habibie wished to meet with the late Sukarno's children as he
\nhas known them personally for a long time.<\/p>\n
The first invitation was turned down due to other commitments.<\/p>\n
\"I am rather busy Bang (brother) Akbar. I have appointments
\nwith several embassies here,\" Akbar said in recounting Megawati's
\nresponse.<\/p>\n
\"Then I told her that whenever she had free time to please
\ninform me,\" he recalled without revealing when the conversation
\ntook place.<\/p>\n
Akbar said Habibie then suggested inviting another one of
\nSukarno's offspring.<\/p>\n
\"The President said if Ibu Megawati was too busy, then how
\nabout Guntur,\" he said in referring to Sukarno's eldest son.<\/p>\n
Akbar's discussion of Guntur Soekarnoputra stopped there, and
\nthere was no confirmation if Guntur was contacted.<\/p>\n
Habibie's intention to meet Megawati was apparently sincere.
\nAkbar said he even went to the trouble of calling Megawati's
\nhusband, Taufik Kiemas, to try to enlist his help in convincing
\nher to accept.<\/p>\n
\"Her husband is a close friend of mine, you see,\" he told
\njournalists.<\/p>\n
\"I called him up and asked: 'Pak Taufik, if nyonya (your wife)
\nhas time, please, tell her the President really wants to have a
\nmeeting with her'.\"<\/p>\n
It is not known whether Akbar also tried to approach Bayu
\nSoekarnoputra, another of Sukarno's children and Megawati's half
\nbrother, who coincidentally is a member of Akbar's staff at the
\nState Secretariat.<\/p>\n
Bayu is known to keep a low profile, and many acquaintances do
\nnot realize his identity.<\/p>\n
Haryanto Taslam, one of Megawati's top aides, has said that
\nMegawati would only meet with Habibie in a legitimate capacity as
\nthe head of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).<\/p>\n
Megawati was ousted by Soerjadi from the leadership during a
\ngovernment-backed congress in Medan, North Sumatra, in 1996.<\/p>\n
Despite allowing changes in the country's political arena,
\nHabibie's government continues to recognize only the Soerjadi's
\nfaction of the PDI leadership.<\/p>\n
Akbar also indicated that other government critics, including
\nformer minister of mines and energy Subroto and his close
\nassociates, had begged off on an invitation to meet with Habibie.<\/p>\n
\"Pak Broto apologized for not being to come because many of
\nhis friends were still out of town,\" Akbar said. He added that
\nHabibie was always open to meetings and dialogs with everybody.
\n(prb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mega-too-busy-for-habibie-invitation-1447893297",
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"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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