Don't abandon history

The situation nowadays is quite different from that in 1956. President Abdurrahman Wahid and Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri agree on how to run a government. Both accept and carry out the broad guidelines of state policy and implement decisions made by the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR). Hence no essential differences exist between the two.

Although there is an impression now that President Wahid and Vice President Megawati differ on the censures that the House of Representatives has passed, this difference is not related to the concept of running a government but to the functions assumed by President Abdurrahman and Vice President Megawati.

As Vice President, Megawati should always uphold the Constitution and as assistant to the President she should perform her duty to the best of her ability. However, as the chairperson of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) she must perform her constitutional duty by allowing PDI Perjuangan as a major party in the House to exercise control over the government. This assignment has been consistently carried out in conformity with the Constitution, which is proven with the issuance of the House censures.

It is clear from the above explanation that Rachmawati (one of Megawati's younger sisters) has made a gross mistake when suggesting that Megawati follow in the footsteps of a former vice president, the late Bung Hatta. This suggestion shows that Rachmawati does not understand history. In this context, she must always remember the last message from Bung Karno in his 1966 state address titled "Never Ever Abandon History".

SUBAGIO ANAM

Jakarta