Govt weak in security: Party

SURABAYA: The executive board of the Indonesian Justice and Unity Party (PKP Indonesia) pointed out on Saturday that President Megawati Soekarnoputri's administration had two weaknesses -- one in ensuring security and the other in enforcing the law.

After being in office for almost two years, Megawati remains powerless in preventing bombing incidents that often strike major cities across the country, said PKP Indonesian deputy chairman Tatto Prajamanggala.

He said she also failed to enforce the law, which has been blamed for rising crime in the country.

Since she was made president in 2001, many big corrupters have not been sent to prison although several of them had been convicted by courts, including House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung.

This has sent a strong message to the public that Megawati's government has done nothing against corruption, which analysts say is the core problem of the prolonged crisis.

Tatto and other PKP Indonesia central board members, including party chairman Gen. (ret) Edi Sudrajat, were in Surabaya on Saturday to attend the party gathering.

The meeting was held to declare the party's readiness to contest the 2004 general elections.

However, Tatto had one compliment for Megawati, saying she had done a good job in the field of economics. "At least the rupiah has been relatively stable under her administration," he said. -- --Antara