Megawati 'refuses' to read progress report<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): While relations between President and Vice
\nPresident are said to be congenial, aides close to Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri said the fact that she did not read Monday's key
\npresidential report was evidence of her dissatisfaction with it.<\/p>\n
Monday's \"incident\" was the second time in less than three
\nweeks she has reportedly rejected reading a presidential report.<\/p>\n
Last month, she was said to have refused to read the
\nPresident's explanation at the interpellation hearing with the
\nHouse of Representatives due to Abdurrahman Wahid's controversial
\nview on the proceedings.<\/p>\n
During both occasions, officials had stated that Megawati
\nwould read the speech on behalf of the President.<\/p>\n
Sources said Megawati informed Abdurrahman on Sunday night
\nthat it was better for him to find another official to read out
\nhis progress report to the People's Consultative Assembly on
\nMonday.<\/p>\n
The source said Megawati said she was critical of the speech's
\ndraft because it was too general and would only confuse the
\npeople who needed concrete and more detailed programs.<\/p>\n
\"Ibu refused to read out the speech, because her suggestion to
\nmake the speech more detailed was not heard by the President,\" an
\nofficial, who asked not to be named, told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
The official said Megawati particularly wanted a more
\ntransparent and concrete report about the latest developments in
\nAceh, Maluku and Irian Jaya included.<\/p>\n
\"She clearly conveyed her reservations to the President, but
\nthe President did not give any reaction,\" the official said,
\nadding that it was a way for Megawati to personally distance
\nherself from the report.<\/p>\n
Cabinet Secretary Marsilam Simanjuntak read out the speech on
\nbehalf of the President on Monday.<\/p>\n
The President disclosed on Friday that he had agreed with
\nMinister of Mines and Energy Lt. Gen. (ret.) Susilo Bambang
\nYudhoyono's suggestions to avoid details and to make the speech
\nas general as possible to avoid controversy.<\/p>\n
After meeting with the President, Susilo said at the time
\nMegawati had given her approval to read out the speech due to
\nAbdurrahman's vision problem.<\/p>\n
The fact that Marsilam was the one to read the speech also
\ntook the Assembly by surprise, with one member interrupting
\nproceedings to demand that Megawati be the one to read the report
\nas originally planned.<\/p>\n
Last month during the interpellation hearing it was State
\nSecretary Djohan Effendy who read out the controversial speech.
\n(prb)<\/p>",
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