Govt weak in security: Party

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