Megawati denies rumors of conflict with Abdurrahman

Megawati denies rumors of conflict with Abdurrahman

JAKARTA (JP): Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri asserted
that her close relationship with President Abdurrahman Wahid, her
long-time friend, remained intact although they were split over
many political matters.

Speaking in a special interview aired live by state radio RRI
on Monday, Megawati regretted the reports circulating that she
had distanced herself from the embattled President after the
House of Representatives handed him two memorandums of censure, a
step short of his formal impeachment.

"My personal relations with Mas Dur are good. We have never
behaved the way people in dispute treat each other. Other people
may refuse to speak to each other if they have a difference of
opinion, but we haven't done that at all," Megawati said.

The Vice President was referring to the President by his
nickname Gus Dur; it has long been known that she always called
him Mas Dur since they were opponents of the New Order under
former president Soeharto in 1996.

"As you all can see, every Wednesday there is breakfast at my
residence, which is often blown out of proportion. Breakfast is
quite simple, where we can talk casually. But, of course the
discussions concern the current political developments," she
said.

There have been reports of cracks in the relationship between
the two, with many saying Abdurrahman often took decisions that
went against Megawati's opinion.

Megawati's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan) joined other factions at the House in supporting the
memorandum process against the President over his alleged
involvement in two financial scandals.

Over the past few days, Megawati has also talked tough about
the President and asserted her readiness to take the lead of the
country, should Abdurrahman be impeached.

"That is the bizarre thing about Indonesian politics -- people
cannot distinguish personal relationships from what is related to
state and political duties and obligations," Megawati remarked.

Despite her cool remarks about the President, she reminded the
nation that as the chairwoman of PDI Perjuangan she was bound to
fulfill the aspiration of her supporters, which was winning the
presidential seat.

Megawati, whose party won the most votes in the 1999 general
election, lost to Abdurrahman in the ensuing presidential
election. She had to be content with the second post in a
separate election.

"I was elected Vice President through a different process. So
it's incorrect if people think that a vice president should
support the president. The vice president is elected to help the
president, but not to become the president's aide," Megawati
remarked.

When asked whether the current government is ineffective, she
suggested that people distinguish the problems facing the country
from those facing the President.

She said that the current government had to deal with many
problems inherited from the past regime, particularly threats of
national disintegration.

"We have to face the fact that it will be very difficult for
the government to cope with these problems as they cannot be
settled overnight. That is why we have to work hard," Megawati
said. (dja)