Guess What? Garin Nugroho

For Garin Nugroho, being part of the circle of Very Important Persons is somewhat confusing.

He says he keeps tight-lipped when people accuse him of cozying up to famous figures.

"People said I was very close to Gus Dur (former president Abdurrahman Wahid), and then some people said I was part of the group which plotted against him. I just know him well," said the 40-year-old director of such critically acclaimed films as Daun Di Atas Bantal, and Puisi Tak Terkuburkan.

"I am also close to (President) Megawati (Soekarnoputri), but not because she is the President."

He admitted to having been given "special tasks" by both of them, "but I have never had a real (official) position".

"I might know many things, but I cannot tell anything to anyone. I must remain ethical. It is better if I say nothing when people accuse me of being a member of the VIPs' cliques."

And he only smiled when asked about his involvement in the botanical garden development campaign scheduled to begin in Bedugul, some 40 kilometers north of Denpasar, Bali, in mid- October. Megawati is said to be behind the project.

So, will he head the project?

"No, I don't know my position," he said with a laugh. (Soeryo Winoto)