Changes in Megawati, hopefully for the better

Changes in Megawati, hopefully for the better

Among those sharing "guarded optimism" for the presidency of
Megawati Soekarnoputri is researcher and rector of the Jakarta
State Islamic Studies Institute Azyumardi Azra.

Question: What is your impression of the events leading up to
the swearing-in of Megawati?

Answer: It was very democratic, constitutional. The Nahdlatul
Ulama (NU, the 34-million strong organization Gus Dur once led)
must not be humiliated. The absence of euphoria (in welcoming the
new President), even in Bali (a strong support base for
Megawati), was good. This showed the deference of PDI Perjuangan
members toward Gus Dur's supporters.

I have guarded optimism, that in two years our politics will
be more stable, particularly with Megawati's reserve and caution.

Q: Activists supporting Gus Dur, some who said they failed to
help Gus Dur to seek graceful exit, fear the return of New Order
elements...

A: The yardstick of "New Order" elements is no longer fair. It's
time activists abandon partisanship politics. Their function is
empowerment. We ask that NGOs remain faithful to principles of
democracy; it's a contradiction in terms if pro-democracy
activists justify (undemocratic actions) to preserve power.

Q: How do you see NU's future?

A: It must be more firm in differentiating NU from the National
Awakening Party faction (PKB) in the legislature ... and return
to its founding principle (khittah) of 1926: its disengagement
from politics, or followers will be confused. NU's image will be
hurt further and its mission as a social organization will fail.
The (modernist) Muhammadiyah organization has managed to do this
better. Yet NU does have examples, such as in its Rois Aam,
(leader of its law making body) Kyai Sahal Mahfudz who does have
political views. He refused to attend the istigosah (prayer
meeting) in Jakarta following the second memorandum of the
legislature (against Gus Dur).

Q: How should President Megawati accommodate Islamic forces?

A: Since the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan) won the 1999 elections there wasn't really an issue
of a woman president anymore; it was the question of her
capability and silence. Since she lost the presidency to become
vice president Megawati has changed. She has implicitly
recognized that Muslims are inevitably a political reality.

Some of her steps, such as going on the haj and the umroh
(minor haj), have been very positive, ending speculations about
her religion (whether she was Hindu or Muslim).

Islam rules that we have no right to judge whether she did
such things for political aims, we can only trust that her intent
was genuine, so her haj would be more meaningful.

What is important is the social political implications (of
such rituals). She has at last become integral to Islam here and
more acceptable to many Muslims. So, as President, she has shown
her commitment to accommodating Islam, particularly ahead of the
Special Session when political parties met at her residence.

This change is also reflected in her party's leadership which
displayed an unfriendly, high profile as the victors in the 1999
election. A blessing in disguise was also Megawati's "internship"
as vice president and her much criticized silence, which, given
Gus Dur's controversial remarks, avoided even further
controversy. Her VP office was also fairly well managed.

Q: But she was so slow on the issue of Maluku, for example...

A: This is what many are waiting for. Gus Dur put her in charge
of, among other things, the Maluku (conflict). She made a mistake
by mainly involving figures from her party, to which Muslims
there were highly resistant given the presence of people like
(retired military officer) Theo Syafei. Her approach to such
issues has begun to change. It would help if she involves
interdepartmental (sources) and independent researchers, like the
earlier team on Maluku (including Azyumardi) headed by
(sociologist and presidential advisor) Selo Soemardjan.

Q: How do you see reform in the TNI under Megawati?

A: We must make sure TNI becomes a professional defense force
uninvolved in the politics of parties. They would need to seek
the support of TNI ahead of the next elections. TNI and the
National Police remain the most solid institutions.

The potential for the political role of (these institutions)
would be much reduced if Megawati succeeds in forming cross-party
membership in her cabinet. This would be accommodative and also
an effort of reconciliation. This was not stressed enough in her
(maiden) speech. I had suggested that she indicate forgiveness
for those considered to have violated the Constitution, such as
Gus Dur in his issuing of the decree. The NU must be
accommodated. Reconciliation would also have to include political
cases -- how to forgive but not forget. A failure of the reform
movement has been the inability among some of us to make peace
with history.

Q: So what should we do with Golkar?

A: It is up to us to ensure that Golkar and any other party
including PDI Perjuangan no longer become a repressive,
manipulative power. Unfortunately PKB failed to see reality; its
(plan) to dissolve itself was not strategic and against party
interests. The PKB faction is needed as a vehicle for NU's legal
channel for its political aspirations. (anr)