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)