Megawati censures govt for immature political system
Megawati censures govt for immature political system
JAKARTA (JP): Megawati Soekarnoputri, in her address
commemorating the Indonesian Democratic Party's (PDI) 25th
anniversary, censured the government for failing to develop an
accountable political system which she said had crippled the
growth of other political parties.
"After a quarter of a century in existence, I can candidly say
that up to this very second, PDI has yet to mature and grow. Why
is this?
"Because the prevailing political system demands and creates
it that way. This shows our political system is far from mature,
which also means that there has been a failure in the political
development of our national leadership," said Megawati, who is
the daughter of Indonesia's first president, Sukarno.
"The source of this failure stems from the arrogance and
maintenance of a hegemonic power which has destroyed every seam
of our state law," charged Megawati.
Her strong remarks were made at a gathering at her residence
in South Jakarta Saturday night which was attended by some 2,000
people.
The gathering proceeded without incident even though police
had previously warned that it would break up any event which was
labeled as a PDI gathering.
Megawati was ousted as PDI's chairwoman during a government-
backed congress in June 1996. She was replaced by Soerjadi who
held his own PDI celebration on Jl. Denpasar, South Jakarta on
Saturday.
PDI was formed in 1973 as the result of a merger of four
political parties.
Aside from censuring the government on its failure in
political development, Megawati also declared that she would be
willing to be nominated for president.
She said she was willing to be nominated because she was
concerned that none of the country's best sons or daughters
apparently had the "boldness" to openly declare their nomination.
Megawati also urged that President Soeharto, who will be 77 in
June, not be renominated for a seventh consecutive term.
"Give him time to rest. Give him time to live again as a
regular citizen because I am sure that he doesn't want to be
president for life," she remarked.
Debts
In her 50-minute address, Megawati pointed to a lack of
transparency, accountability and the death of democracy as
reasons for the country's worsening economic crisis.
She said such carelessness toward the people's sovereignty had
resulted in the negligent accumulation of foreign debts.
While maintaining that she was not adverse to the procurement
of foreign aid, she said its use was often speculative in an
environment where unfree economic competition ruled.
"Can they (the government) pay back its debts with the dollar
exchange rate doubling like this?
"The lack of transparency has created a closed decision-making
process," she lamented.
She said that those in power must be held accountable and
urged people to take legal action against corrupt officials and
those who had caused the national economy to decay.
While expressing her gratitude to other countries which have
extended assistance to Indonesia, Megawati insisted that the
loans not be used to bail out conglomerates that had submerged
themselves in debt at the expense of the nation.
She urged people to help establish a clean government "willing
to be held accountable by law and the people through democratic
and legal institutions".
"I think this crisis cannot be overcome without a realization
that reform and corrections have to occur," she said.
"Is it not possible for us not to produce new leaders who are
more hearty, fresh and willing to listen to the cries of the
people?" (imn/mds)
JAKARTA (JP): Megawati Soekarnoputri, in her address
commemorating the Indonesian Democratic Party's (PDI) 25th
anniversary, censured the government for failing to develop an
accountable political system which she said had crippled the
growth of other political parties.
"After a quarter of a century in existence, I can candidly say
that up to this very second, PDI has yet to mature and grow. Why
is this?
"Because the prevailing political system demands and creates
it that way. This shows our political system is far from mature,
which also means that there has been a failure in the political
development of our national leadership," said Megawati, who is
the daughter of Indonesia's first president, Sukarno.
"The source of this failure stems from the arrogance and
maintenance of a hegemonic power which has destroyed every seam
of our state law," charged Megawati.
Her strong remarks were made at a gathering at her residence
in South Jakarta Saturday night which was attended by some 2,000
people.
The gathering proceeded without incident even though police
had previously warned that it would break up any event which was
labeled as a PDI gathering.
Megawati was ousted as PDI's chairwoman during a government-
backed congress in June 1996. She was replaced by Soerjadi who
held his own PDI celebration on Jl. Denpasar, South Jakarta on
Saturday.
PDI was formed in 1973 as the result of a merger of four
political parties.
Aside from censuring the government on its failure in
political development, Megawati also declared that she would be
willing to be nominated for president.
She said she was willing to be nominated because she was
concerned that none of the country's best sons or daughters
apparently had the "boldness" to openly declare their nomination.
Megawati also urged that President Soeharto, who will be 77 in
June, not be renominated for a seventh consecutive term.
"Give him time to rest. Give him time to live again as a
regular citizen because I am sure that he doesn't want to be
president for life," she remarked.
Debts
In her 50-minute address, Megawati pointed to a lack of
transparency, accountability and the death of democracy as
reasons for the country's worsening economic crisis.
She said such carelessness toward the people's sovereignty had
resulted in the negligent accumulation of foreign debts.
While maintaining that she was not adverse to the procurement
of foreign aid, she said its use was often speculative in an
environment where unfree economic competition ruled.
"Can they (the government) pay back its debts with the dollar
exchange rate doubling like this?
"The lack of transparency has created a closed decision-making
process," she lamented.
She said that those in power must be held accountable and
urged people to take legal action against corrupt officials and
those who had caused the national economy to decay.
While expressing her gratitude to other countries which have
extended assistance to Indonesia, Megawati insisted that the
loans not be used to bail out conglomerates that had submerged
themselves in debt at the expense of the nation.
She urged people to help establish a clean government "willing
to be held accountable by law and the people through democratic
and legal institutions".
"I think this crisis cannot be overcome without a realization
that reform and corrections have to occur," she said.
"Is it not possible for us not to produce new leaders who are
more hearty, fresh and willing to listen to the cries of the
people?" (imn/mds)