Doubts about Megawati

Doubts about Megawati

Megawati Soekarnoputri took over the Indonesian presidency on
July 23 with a clear mandate from the People's Consultative
Assembly, which by a 591-0 vote ousted Abdurrahman Wahid on
charges of general incompetence and corruption. The expectation
was that she swiftly would move ahead with political reforms and
economic policies to which Mr. Wahid paid lip service but never
seriously pursued. With the economy still going nowhere and
criticism over a lack of leadership mounting, it would appear
that Ms. Megawati's honeymoon is drawing to a close.

Cleaning up the financial mess is the most urgent priority.
During her first month in office, Ms. Megawati deservedly reaped
high praise for the "dream team" of economic advisers she
selected for the cabinet. Picked predominately for technocratic
skill rather than political allegiance, the appointments sent a
message that the old Soeharto ways of cronyism were finally going
to change in Jakarta. The new government was putting people in
place who would pursue sound economic policies ahead of their own
personal interest. The International Monetary Fund responded by
resuming aid.

Unfortunately the dream team hasn't done much to relieve
Indonesia's economic problems.

In the four months since Megawati Soekarnoputri assumed
office, she has frequently referred to the legacy of her father
Sukarno, the nation's founding father. That familial connection
with the past still guarantees Ms. Megawati a large measure of
popular support should she decide to undertake reforms that will
keep Indonesia together and move it forward. Some time soon,
however, she will have to start turning that latent potential
into reality.

-- The Asian Wall Street Journal, Hong Kong