Leadership change proceeds smoothly

Leadership change proceeds smoothly

It is too bad that events in Jakarta have overshadowed the
meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers in Hanoi. It should be
remembered by everyone that the last Indonesian government was
overthrown in months of destructive and murderous violence that
included the burning of parts of the capital and the flight of
much of the middle class. Democracy has proved again it provides
a peaceful way to change regimes.

Mr. Wahid's departure solves one set of problems. The
sometimes eccentric Muslim teacher failed to establish a
confident leadership in his country. His long absences overseas
gave the impression that he did not care to face harsh problems
or, worse, that he did not care about them. He refused to play
his part in the barely budding democratic process, imperiously
ignoring parliament's requests and demands that he account for
his actions.

But seeing Mr. Wahid off the stage leaves Indonesia and Mrs.
Megawati with huge challenges, including several that she carries
into the presidency. Unfortunately, she will have to face
skeptics of the old school who believe a woman should not run a
country. There also are those who compare her to her father
Sukarno, a firebrand nationalist, and find her wanting. Mrs.
Megawati should ignore both these groups so far as she can, and
move into the job with her own style and competence.

More seriously, Mrs. Megawati will have to continue to deal
with the political leadership which back-stabbed her just 21
months ago. The speaker of parliament, Amien Rais, is prominent
among those Indonesian leaders with their own agenda. It must be
hoped they will resist the temptation to try to use and
manipulate the president.

Indonesia needs a strong leader with a vision. Mrs. Megawati
is extremely popular, and she can build on grassroots support.
She has to hold together a fractious nation, while trying to dig
it out of a recession which has impoverished vast parts of the
country for four years. It won't be an easy task. Mrs. Megawati
deserves the help of all Indonesians.

-- The Bangkok Post