Megawati, complicated and aloof

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Gloom fell over Megawati Soekarnoputri's private residence in Kebagusan, South Jakarta, as a small group huddled around the television set, hours after the election runoff on Sept. 20.

The quick count confirmed their worst fears: the incumbent had lost.

The dream had come to an end, not only for Megawati but for millions of her faithful supporters.

Their faces were grief-stricken; but disbelief soon turned to anger. Megawati's husband Taufik Kiemas, who was at that time recovering from a mild stroke, was urged to take a rest and calm down. Some were vocal, others paced the room looking for something on which to vent their ire.

Amid the emotional wreckage was one island of calm -- the person who mattered the most, Megawati, was extraordinarily at ease.

"Wis toh, ndak apa-apa (Let it be, it's alright)," she said in Javanese.

In that brief moment, Megawati was at her best. She resisted an emotional display in the wake of her imminent fall.

But weeks later, when people assumed she would be gracious, Megawati dug in her heels and refused to congratulate or meet with the president-elect.

Begrudgingly, it seemed, she dismissed talk of reconciliation with her former security minister, saying that there was no need for such a meeting.

Psychologists would have a field day with Megawati. Under pressure, she is full of grace, motherly even; yet, that pride can also make her stubborn as a mule.

Like a five-year-old in a toy store -- who believes he is invincible -- she breaks all the rules. And, while others may bear the cost, Megawati shows no remorse.

Her argument is strong -- in that she sticks to it -- but it falters in terms of logic.

Her past is marked by triumphs and tragedies that would turn a lesser man or woman into an emotional basket case. Her complicated personal life story saw her brought up in the Palace, demoted to second-class citizenship and rise as the great hope of democracy, before being rejected in the election.

All this -- including two marriages and an annulment -- occurred within a span of 57 years.

Accompanying her father, founding president Sukarno, Megawati, as a teenager, traveled the globe and was hugged by kings and presidents. She was never absent from state receptions, at which Sukarno encouraged her to dance before dignitaries.

But at 19 years of age her charmed life suddenly came to an end when her father was removed from office in 1966. Banished from the palace grounds, the Sukarno children were reduced to begging to see their ailing father, who remained under house arrest.

She lost her father in 1971 and her first husband, the late Capt. Surindro Supjarso, in 1970. From that marriage she has two sons, Mohammad Rizky Pratama and Pramudya Prananda.

Her second marriage was to Egyptian diplomat Hassan Gamal Ahmad Hasan, but only lasted a few months as the Sukarno family were against it. In 1973, she married Taufik and was blessed with her only daughter, Puan Maharani.

Her political career, which began with the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) in 1987, was not a smooth journey either. She was not spared the restrictions of Soeharto's regime: As her popularity increased and she was perceived to be a threat, there were times when she was told to disembark from a commercial plane via the cargo exit, rather than the front door.

During these crazy days, Taufik was solid in his support, but in her glory days, this outgoing and explosive personality became her worst enemy.

Many considered that Megawati was the victim in her marriage. Bad judgments, erroneous political moves and money-oriented policies were driven by Taufik in the public's eyes.

Although Taufik's public image may be accurate, it cannot be denied that Megawati's fragility was in her inability to challenge him -- even when his actions threatened her administration, party and credibility.

However, despite the talk that surrounds her, not many are fortunate enough to see her Midas touch -- a rare gift that is not bestowed on many.

Megawati smiles from the heart. Her gestures of compassion stun, so that the more time you spend with her -- Megawati the person, not the president -- the more she grows on you, even if you differ in opinion.

The sincerity of the president's daughter is second to none. If she comes to trust you, and is comfortable in your presence, her jokes and light stories may take you by surprise.

Her belief in the pluralistic nature of Indonesia has been a sanctuary for all, especially minorities in the world's most populous Muslim nation.

"There is no such thing as indigenous or non-indigenous; anyone born here is an Indonesian, and those who have clear citizenship are Indonesians," she often said.

Her love of the arts was visible in changes at the Presidential Palace soon after she took office. Old paintings, sculptures and many artifacts were restored to their original condition.

Despite criticism of her refusal to meet Susilo, she capped her three-year presidency with a peaceful transition through a complex and truly democratic election.

She maintained a sportsmanlike approach by not augmenting her power and authority to ensure victory in the first direct election, and accepted her defeat by not contesting the result.

Facing tough and emotional personalities in her Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), she has remained a cool and strong leader, asking her "children" to stay calm in victory or defeat.

"My job is to lead the country toward fully fledged democracy through the completion of the election process: That's the main point," she said to members of her inner circle, who were still lamenting her defeat.

As she leaves the spotlight, Megawati looks forward to opening a garden somewhere in Bogor with her dearest friend, Hera Tarto Sudiro, and spending more time with her five grandchildren.

However, she is also intent on saving the devastated PDI-P -- which makes one think that we may not have seen the last of her.