Mega receives degree, speaks out for justice
TOKYO (JP): President Megawati Soekarnoputri said on Saturday powerful nations imposing double standards on weaker countries was a betrayal of the norms of justice.
Not mentioning any specific nations, the President emphasized that such unjust measures would only give rise to human suffering and the proliferation of human rights violations.
"In the course of international relations, it is imperative that those nations that are politically, economically and militarily more powerful than others demonstrate to the world their sincerity and seriousness in realizing justice and making humanity more civilized," the President said.
Megawati made the remarks on the occasion of the conferment on her of an honorary doctorate in law by the prestigious University of Waseda.
According to the university president Takayasu Okushima, the honorary doctorate is conferred on persons in recognition of their contributions to learning, the arts, society and mankind.
Megawati was the 66th recipient of the degree. Other recipients include former South Africa president Nelson Mandela and former Philippine president Corazon Aquino.
"In the strongly Islamic climate of Indonesian politics, there was strong opposition to the election of a female president. Viewed from the standpoint of the global movement to improve the position of woman in society, her successful struggle to overcome such resistance and her rise to the highest position in the land is of tremendous significance," said Okushima in a statement.
For Megawati, this was the second occasion for her to visit the university. The first was when, at the age of 12, she accompanied her father, Indonesia's first president Sukarno, to address the university.
Megawati could not complete her studies at the Bandung-based Padjadjaran University and University of Indonesia after the political demise of her father in 1967. Soeharto's regime forced her and some of her brothers and sisters to discontinue their studies.
"My understanding of law does not differ from that of most Indonesians from various walks of life. I only hope that this honorary doctorate was conferred on me not just because I happen to be the President of the Republic of Indonesia," Megawati said with a smile.
Megawati noted that despite her lack of formal knowledge of law, she had suffered bitter injustices during Soeharto's 32-year regime and such treatment had strengthened her belief in the supremacy of law.
"We often witness how certain people, when they have power, oppress others because of differences in political views or interests," Megawati said in an apparent reference to Soeharto.
On Friday night, an Indonesian dance troupe under the direction of her younger brother Guruh Soekarnoputra performed at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo.
Sukarno often stayed at the hotel during his visits to Tokyo and it was here that he met a 19-year-old Japanese hostess in 1959. Sukarno later married the young woman and she changed her name Ratna Sari Dewi.
Dewi also attended the performance and shook hands with Megawati, her step-daughter.
Megawati and her entourage are expected to arrive in Jakarta on Sunday afternoon after a five-day stay in Japan. (dja/prb)