Megawati celebrates her 57th birthday with 5,000 people
Megawati celebrates her 57th birthday with 5,000 people
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
President Megawati Soekarnoputri chose to celebrate her 57th
birthday with thousands of well-wishers on Friday. But while she
often boasts of being a law-abiding citizen, the Elections
Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu) could perceive her actions as an
attempt to find a loophole in the ban on campaign activities
prior to the assigned campaign period.
The President prohibited photographers and cameramen from
shooting the cheerful celebration, most likely to prevent
Panwaslu from procuring evidence to support their allegations
that the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) had
seized the opportunity to woo voters. While no PDI-P symbols were
evident, many party executives like State Minister of State
Enterprises Laksamana Sukardi were present.
Apparently, amid her birthday jubilation, Megawati forgot the
presence of dozens of reporters who were covering the event and
whose reports would no doubt spark public protest. The birthday
party was held in an open field in Jababeka Industrial Estate, in
Cikarang, West Java.
"This is a private celebration, so no pictures please," a
presidential palace official begged journalists at the venue.
Megawati was born in Yogyakarta on Jan. 23, 1947, the eldest
daughter of the country's first president Sukarno. She herself
became the country's 5th president when as a vice president she
replaced Abdurrahman Wahid in 2001.
Panwaslu had scolded PDI-P for organizing a massive gathering
in Surakarta, Central Java, last week. According to the elections
law, parties are only allowed to campaign a few weeks prior to
the legislative election in April.
The President's close confidante, who requested anonymity,
told The Jakarta Post, that Megawati herself had requested
publicity be kept to a bare minimum, for fear that the
celebration would be perceived as an early campaign event.
Representatives from factories operating inside the industrial
estate swarmed the venue, along with 150 students from the
private President University, 400 people living around the area
and 100 orphans.
Popular dangdut singer Cici Paramida entertained the guests.
Megawati, wearing a batik dress, was accompanied by her
husband Taufik Kiemas, her eldest son Mohammad Rizky Pratama, and
only daughter Puan Maharani.
"Personally, I would like to hide my age. People say that
after you reach 50, your time is less and less. I would like to
say that I am 27-years plus," she said.
She tried to hold back her tears of joy and praised people's
support for her governance.
"Without the help of the people, the government could do
nothing to develop the country," the President underlined.
Megawati also gave rice to 10 representatives of the factory,
workers, orphans and students around the complex. The President
also presented gifts to people to take home.
"There are some 50 items, such as sugar, coffee and other food
stuffs in each of these boxes," one of the palace officials told
The Jakarta Post.
Before leaving the complex, Megawati took the time to shake
hands with other ordinary people who had gathered outside the
venue.