Megawati, complicated and aloof<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Gloom fell over Megawati Soekarnoputri's private residence in
\nKebagusan, South Jakarta, as a small group huddled around the
\ntelevision set, hours after the election runoff on Sept. 20.<\/p>\n
The quick count confirmed their worst fears: the incumbent had
\nlost.<\/p>\n
The dream had come to an end, not only for Megawati but for
\nmillions of her faithful supporters.<\/p>\n
Their faces were grief-stricken; but disbelief soon turned to
\nanger. Megawati's husband Taufik Kiemas, who was at that time
\nrecovering from a mild stroke, was urged to take a rest and calm
\ndown. Some were vocal, others paced the room looking for
\nsomething on which to vent their ire.<\/p>\n
Amid the emotional wreckage was one island of calm -- the
\nperson who mattered the most, Megawati, was extraordinarily at
\nease.<\/p>\n
\"Wis toh, ndak apa-apa (Let it be, it's alright),\" she said in
\nJavanese.<\/p>\n
In that brief moment, Megawati was at her best. She resisted
\nan emotional display in the wake of her imminent fall.<\/p>\n
But weeks later, when people assumed she would be gracious,
\nMegawati dug in her heels and refused to congratulate or meet
\nwith the president-elect.<\/p>\n
Begrudgingly, it seemed, she dismissed talk of reconciliation
\nwith her former security minister, saying that there was no need
\nfor such a meeting.<\/p>\n
Psychologists would have a field day with Megawati. Under
\npressure, she is full of grace, motherly even; yet, that pride
\ncan also make her stubborn as a mule.<\/p>\n
Like a five-year-old in a toy store -- who believes he is
\ninvincible -- she breaks all the rules. And, while others may
\nbear the cost, Megawati shows no remorse.<\/p>\n
Her argument is strong -- in that she sticks to it -- but it
\nfalters in terms of logic.<\/p>\n
Her past is marked by triumphs and tragedies that would turn a
\nlesser man or woman into an emotional basket case. Her
\ncomplicated personal life story saw her brought up in the Palace,
\ndemoted to second-class citizenship and rise as the great hope of
\ndemocracy, before being rejected in the election.<\/p>\n
All this -- including two marriages and an annulment --
\noccurred within a span of 57 years.<\/p>\n
Accompanying her father, founding president Sukarno, Megawati,
\nas a teenager, traveled the globe and was hugged by kings and
\npresidents. She was never absent from state receptions, at which
\nSukarno encouraged her to dance before dignitaries.<\/p>\n
But at 19 years of age her charmed life suddenly came to an
\nend when her father was removed from office in 1966. Banished
\nfrom the palace grounds, the Sukarno children were reduced to
\nbegging to see their ailing father, who remained under house
\narrest.<\/p>\n
She lost her father in 1971 and her first husband, the late
\nCapt. Surindro Supjarso, in 1970. From that marriage she has two
\nsons, Mohammad Rizky Pratama and Pramudya Prananda.<\/p>\n
Her second marriage was to Egyptian diplomat Hassan Gamal
\nAhmad Hasan, but only lasted a few months as the Sukarno family
\nwere against it. In 1973, she married Taufik and was blessed with
\nher only daughter, Puan Maharani.<\/p>\n
Her political career, which began with the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party (PDI) in 1987, was not a smooth journey either.
\nShe was not spared the restrictions of Soeharto's regime: As her
\npopularity increased and she was perceived to be a threat, there
\nwere times when she was told to disembark from a commercial plane
\nvia the cargo exit, rather than the front door.<\/p>\n
During these crazy days, Taufik was solid in his support, but
\nin her glory days, this outgoing and explosive personality became
\nher worst enemy.<\/p>\n
Many considered that Megawati was the victim in her marriage.
\nBad judgments, erroneous political moves and money-oriented
\npolicies were driven by Taufik in the public's eyes.<\/p>\n
Although Taufik's public image may be accurate, it cannot be
\ndenied that Megawati's fragility was in her inability to
\nchallenge him -- even when his actions threatened her
\nadministration, party and credibility.<\/p>\n
However, despite the talk that surrounds her, not many are
\nfortunate enough to see her Midas touch -- a rare gift that is
\nnot bestowed on many.<\/p>\n
Megawati smiles from the heart. Her gestures of compassion
\nstun, so that the more time you spend with her -- Megawati the
\nperson, not the president -- the more she grows on you, even if
\nyou differ in opinion.<\/p>\n
The sincerity of the president's daughter is second to none.
\nIf she comes to trust you, and is comfortable in your presence,
\nher jokes and light stories may take you by surprise.<\/p>\n
Her belief in the pluralistic nature of Indonesia has been a
\nsanctuary for all, especially minorities in the world's most
\npopulous Muslim nation.<\/p>\n
\"There is no such thing as indigenous or non-indigenous;
\nanyone born here is an Indonesian, and those who have clear
\ncitizenship are Indonesians,\" she often said.<\/p>\n
Her love of the arts was visible in changes at the
\nPresidential Palace soon after she took office. Old paintings,
\nsculptures and many artifacts were restored to their original
\ncondition.<\/p>\n
Despite criticism of her refusal to meet Susilo, she capped
\nher three-year presidency with a peaceful transition through a
\ncomplex and truly democratic election.<\/p>\n
She maintained a sportsmanlike approach by not augmenting her
\npower and authority to ensure victory in the first direct
\nelection, and accepted her defeat by not contesting the result.<\/p>\n
Facing tough and emotional personalities in her Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), she has remained a cool and
\nstrong leader, asking her \"children\" to stay calm in victory or
\ndefeat.<\/p>\n
\"My job is to lead the country toward fully fledged democracy
\nthrough the completion of the election process: That's the main
\npoint,\" she said to members of her inner circle, who were still
\nlamenting her defeat.<\/p>\n
As she leaves the spotlight, Megawati looks forward to opening
\na garden somewhere in Bogor with her dearest friend, Hera Tarto
\nSudiro, and spending more time with her five grandchildren.<\/p>\n
However, she is also intent on saving the devastated PDI-P --
\nwhich makes one think that we may not have seen the last of her.<\/p>",
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