After the first 100 days
Perhaps very few people would consider it fair to appraise the performance of our new leaders after only 100 days in power, especially considering the herculean crises they are facing which really require the attention of 10 superhumans. And in all probability it will take years for the country to overcome the devastating economic crisis, let alone the danger of national disintegration, corruption and the recurrent abuse of human rights.
Today, President Abdurrahman Wahid and Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri are in Aceh and Maluku respectively on a mission to stop the country from falling apart and to stop the orgy of violence in both places. Although some wisdom has been applied in these two restive regions, things do appear to be getting worse from day to day.
The nation in its part recognizes Abdurrahman's limited ability to shoulder these herculean burdens due to health restraints, and therefore the people have pinned their hopes on Megawati to take on some of the burden. Gus Dur, as the President is also known as, several months ago tasked the Vice President with the Maluku crisis, the area her the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) ruled supreme in last year's general election. But the nation has yet to witness an effective step from her.
Her inaction has been evident for quite some time. She did not attempt to visit the troubled province right after being given the responsibility of solving its problems even though so much criticism was leveled at her because of the ongoing killings. Megawati only deemed it necessary to go to Maluku last month with Gus Dur, but it appears the overdue visit failed to yield a positive result. Bloody clashes erupted again just hours after the two national leaders wound up their visit. Violence broke out yet again over the weekend.
Megawati, however didn't waste time in deciding to go on a family holiday to Hong Kong for New Year's while things were still escalating in Maluku.
During talks she held separately with Muslim and Christian communities in Maluku on Tuesday, her speeches plainly gave the impression that she lacked conviction. Neither did she give any indication that she would get tough with the situation.
It is possible that Megawati found it difficult make better speeches or put her ear to the ground to listen to the heartbeats of the angry populace. Back in Jakarta, she seems to be very much in need of an able and professional staff to aid her in her substantial duties. The trouble is, would she be able to fully appreciate the importance of a good staff?
It is true that it is unfair to gauge the ability of the national leadership at this untimely moment, but with the limited abilities of the President and the resulting expectations the people increasingly place on his second-in-command it is extremely urgent to reevaluate Megawati's competence right now. It is never too late to give some thoughts about this, despite the fact that many people have been lamenting: "Lucky our representatives did not elect her as president in October."
In this difficult situation, what every thinking Indonesian can do now is to pray for Gus Dur's health. God forbid that something unfavorable might happen to him. Our national ship, which is sailing amid a strong storm, would sorely miss an able captain.
Since our political system does not allow for a way out under such circumstances, the only thing we can do to avoid a national catastrophe is to strongly urge Megawati to strive to improve her capability.