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.