It's Mega's moment

It's Mega's moment

JAKARTA (JP): Megawati Soekarnoputri could well have been
thinking, "She who laughs last laughs longest," as she was sworn
in as the country's president on Monday.

Before the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) members who
voted against her in the 1999 presidential election, Megawati
vowed to cooperate with all elements of the nation to cope with
the problems the country was facing.

"I'm aware of the onerous tasks we must carry out in the
future and of the necessity of taking immediate and concrete
action to defuse the prolonged crisis.

"I also realize that I myself will be unable to overcome all
of the outstanding problems. Strong discipline and a spirit of
cooperation are needed so that we can share the burden. A
favorable political climate is also required to allow the nation
to emerge from the crisis," said Megawati, who received a
standing ovation from the floor.

Her election came just a few minutes after the Assembly
revoked the mandate it had given to Abdurrahman Wahid on the
grounds that he had exceeded his authority, particularly by
issuing a decree suspending the Assembly and the House of
Representatives in the early hours of Monday.

All 591 lawmakers from the nine political party factions that
supported the snap special session voted for the ousting of Gus
Dur, as Abdurrahman is familiarly known, and the appointment of
Megawati as the new president.

"Based on the fact that the factions have rejected the
issuance by President Abdurrahman Wahid of a decree declaring a
state of emergency and its political consequences as provided for
by Chapter 8 of the 1945 Constitution, MPR Decrees No. 3/1978 and
No. 2/2000, Abdurrahman Wahid has been removed from office in
midterm as he is truly guilty of having contravened the
Constitution; and Megawati is hereby appointed as the new
president of the Republic of Indonesia," said Assembly Speaker
Amien Rais, who presided over the special session.

The Indonesian Military/National Police faction adopted an
unusually overt stance opposing the presidential decree. Vice
Admiral Ronggo Sunarso, spokesman for the faction, said both the
military and the police were united in supporting the Assembly's
rejection of the decree and calling for Gus Dur's ouster.

The Assembly resorted to voting on all of its decisions
because of the absence of the National Awakening Party (PKB) and
Love the Nation Democratic Party (PDKB) factions at the special
session as required by the Assembly's standing orders.

To show that its stance in opposing the special session had
not changed, the PKB announced its refusal to recognize
Megawati's elevation to the presidency.

"The PKB rejects all of the results of the MPR special
session," PKB deputy secretary-general Chotibul Umam Wiranu said
during a media conference at the PKB secretariat in Kuningan,
Central Jakarta.

Following Gus Dur's ouster, Amien handed the Assembly's
decision to Megawati and then the Assembly heard Megawati take
the presidential oath of office in the presence of foreign
diplomats.

In taking the presidential oath, Megawati, who was dressed in
a white and purple kebaya (traditional attire), pledged she would
comply with the Constitution in running her government.

Lawmakers shook hands with each other while several from the
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan)
supporting Megawati shouted Allahhu Akbar (God is Great).

Taufik Kiemas, Megawati's husband, bowed his head and shed
tears upon witnessing his wife's appointment as the new
president.

In her maiden press conference as President at the vice
presidential office, Megawati said Gus Dur's cabinet was
suspended as of Tuesday but that all ministers should continue to
carry out their tasks but avoid making crucial decisions until
she had formed a new cabinet in a few days time.

"I will announce the cabinet ministers within the next few
days and at the same time I will announce the work program of the
cabinet," she said.

Departing from the original arrangements, Megawati refused to
hold a question-and-answer session with the hordes of expectant
journalists.

Lawmakers hailed Megawati's appointment as the new President,
expressing the hope that she could lead the nation based upon
close cooperation with all of the political parties so as to form
an effective government and overcome the political and economic
crisis.

Dimyati Hartono, an outspoken legislator from the PDI
Perjuangan, stated that the special session was constitutional
and Megawati's appointment legitimate as the motions concerned
had been supported by two thirds of the 700-member MPR.

"All sides, including former president Gus Dur, should accept
the Assembly's decision as the special session was supported by
the majority of lawmakers," he said.

He called on Megawati to be consistent with her pledge to
cooperate with other parties so that her government could survive
until 2004.

Bomer Pasaribu, deputy secretary-general of Golkar, said
Megawati should learn from her predecessor's experience in
forming her cabinet so as to ensure her position until 2004 and
to achieve major advances over the next 100 days.

"We have seen that she won the full support of the Assembly.
This means that all of the factions are hoping she will
successfully lead the nation," he said.

Kwik Kian Gie, former coordinating minister for the economy,
called on Megawati to form a coalition cabinet to win the support
of the political parties in the legislature.

"It must be a coalition cabinet, but I am not sure whether it
will be 100 percent or not. But, I hope that it represents all
power elements, at least until 2004," Kwik said.

Agum Gumelar, Gus Dur's coordinating minister for political,
social and security affairs, said he accepted all the decisions
the Assembly had made during the special session.

"And I will support the new government that emerges from the
special session," he remarked at the legislative complex before
attending the session.

The special session, previously scheduled for Aug. 1, 2001,
was brought forward following the appointment by Gus Dur last
Friday of Com. Gen. Chaeruddin Ismail as acting chief of the
National Police without the approval of the House of
Representatives.

Besides going against MPR Decree No. 7/2000 that requires
House approval for the appointment of police and military
commanders, the President's move was criticized as increasing
tensions within the police force. (rms/dja)