Megawati deplores personality cults, assesses riots damages<\/p>\n
DENPASAR, Bali (JP): Personality cults must be avoided as they
\nderive from excessive fanaticism, which could be abused by
\nirresponsible groups, said Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri.<\/p>\n
\"Excessive fanaticism which leads to improperly idolizing
\nsomebody is absolutely wrong and unnecessary,\" she said on
\nSaturday during a ceremony at Wisma Sabha at the governor's
\noffice complex in Denpasar.<\/p>\n
Her address during the ceremony was conducted without a
\nprepared written text.<\/p>\n
\"Both the president and I often feel awkward with the various
\nstate protocols that we have to go through. So allow me to now
\nspeak without a text,\" she said before she began her speech.<\/p>\n
Megawati, accompanied by her husband, Taufik Kiemas,
\nCoordinating Minister for Poverty Elimination Hamzah Haz, and
\nofficials of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
\nPerjuangan), was in Bali to assess the damage caused by riots two
\nweeks ago.<\/p>\n
Bali Governor Dewa Made Beratha said in his reports that
\nthe two-day melee, which began soon after Megawati lost the
\npresidential race to Abdurrahman Wahid on Oct. 20 had caused a
\ntotal loss of Rp 207 billion.<\/p>\n
A large number of people, mostly PDI Perjuangan supporters in
\nBali and some other cities in the country became angry upon
\nhearing that their idol, chairwoman of PDI Perjuangan, failed to
\nwin the presidential seat.<\/p>\n
In Bali's cities Denpasar, Badung, Tabanan, Jembrana and
\nBuleleng, resentful PDI Perjuangan supporters ran amok, setting
\nablaze several state-owned buildings.<\/p>\n
The Vice President said she was surprised by the Balinese
\nactions. She said the anarchy reflected people's accumulated
\ndissatisfaction, which had never been channeled.<\/p>\n
\"People did not know where to channel their aspirations, so
\nviolence occurred as a way to express their dissatisfaction. The
\nriots, which happened in several cities in the country, were like
\ninitial steps to open the valves for people's aspirations.
\nHowever, any brutal way of expressing dissatisfaction cannot be
\ncondoned,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Therefore, she stressed, a proper way and mechanism should be
\nfound to channel people's aspirations to avoid more violence in
\nthis era of reform and democracy. \"The government should not have
\nbeen too suspicious of its own people,\" she said.<\/p>\n
She cited what President Abdurrahman Wahid and she did
\nconcerning disgruntled employees and officials of the (former)
\nMinistry of Information and Ministry of Social Affairs as an
\nexample of efforts to open warm communications with the people.<\/p>\n
Soon after the swearing in of the new Cabinet, the President
\nand Vice President received representatives of demonstrators, who
\ndemanded that the government review its policy to close down the
\ntwo ministries.<\/p>\n
Discontent<\/p>\n
Megawati was given a very warm welcome by the Balinese. People
\nflocked to the ceremony, jostling to get closer when she walked
\nto her car after the ceremony finished.<\/p>\n
The eldest daughter of Indonesia's first president, Soekarno,
\nresponded to the people's welcome by smiling and waving.<\/p>\n
Local figures who were invited to join the gathering with the
\nVice President, however, felt discontent as there was no time for
\nan open dialog with Megawati. The organizing committee ended the
\nceremony as soon as the Vice President finished her speech.<\/p>\n
Critical local figures, including Putu Suasta, Anak Agung
\nNgurah Gede Kusuma Wardana, Dewa Gde Palguna, Putu Wirata as well
\nas students and members of a youth organization were seated in
\nthe balcony, where there were no microphones.<\/p>\n
The main hall, where Megawati was, was filled only by
\nlegislators and civilian and military officials.<\/p>\n
\"It's ironic that we were given no time to talk with the Vice
\nPresident. Mbak (sister) Mega herself hinted in her address that
\nshe wanted a direct dialog with the audience,\" said Putu Suasta,
\nchairman of Red and White Forum, a local NGO.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the Observers of Indonesian Hindu Dharma, Dewa
\nNgurah Swastha, said, \"I was there in formal dress. What's the
\nuse of coming here if all we do is just witnessed a ceremony.\"<\/p>\n
After the ceremony, Megawati and her entourage had a close
\nlook at the buildings damaged by rioters.<\/p>\n
She left Denpasar at 1:15 p.m. for Singaraja, Buleleng, which
\nwas the most ravaged by riots. Singaraja is located 120
\nkilometers north of Denpasar.<\/p>\n
The Vice President was scheduled to spend Saturday night at
\nTampaksiring Palace and fly to Jakarta on Sunday morning.
\n(zen\/sur)<\/p>",
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