Maneuvers against Megawati

Maneuvers against Megawati

From Rakyat Merdeka

Together with former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid's
firm resistance, especially at the moment when the People's
Consultative Assembly's special session was about to proceed, it
was obvious that some of those around Gus Dur were making strong
endeavors not only to show their loyalty but also to position
themselves favorably.

As regards the latter, let's highlight particularly the
process of political communication between Gus Dur's spokesmen
and the electronic media. One TV station held an interview with
Wimar Witoelar. Unflinching, Wimar explicitly stated, "I'm not
sure Megawati Soekarnoputri can stay in power long... she could
well be ousted in three months."

Wimar's statement was contradicted by Sabam Sirait but he
ignored it, and went on to condemn the PDI Perjuangan and members
of the People's Consultative Assembly for having no consciences
as regards Gus Dur's ouster. Actually, if the statement had been
said by a legislator, it would have been understandable. But the
way it was said makes us question how far a presidential
spokesman can play his role.

Several days before the special session, TVRI presenter Usi
Karundeng's gave Gus Dur such an easy ride during an interview
that we were astonished and driven to wonder whether she was
trying to follow former information minister Harmoko's
"acrobatic" style so that she could enter into the circles of
power.

Usi Karundeng appeared so enthusiastic when acting as the
moderator in a discussion program titled Constitution and Reform
Directions, in which a dialog among a number former chairmen of
small political parties, Gus Dur and Rachmawati from the Bung
Karno Educational Foundation was featured. Blatantly, she steered
the debate towards the conflict between Megawati Soekarnoputri
and Rachmawati.

For example, she trapped Rachmawati with the following
question: "Under these circumstances, the vice president should
also be responsible and, if necessary, she should resign,
shouldn't she?" Above all, I would suggest that the presidential
palace be cleansed of people such as Wimar Witoelar, Adhie
Massardi, Yahya Staquf, and also the silent Indrawadi Tamin.

TVRI shouldn't recruit people who are only good at
bootlicking. There are still many prospective and professional
employees who would make good presenters on TVRI.

SYARIEFUDDIN

Bekasi, West Java