Megawati deplores personality cults, assesses riots damages

DENPASAR, Bali (JP): Personality cults must be avoided as they derive from excessive fanaticism, which could be abused by irresponsible groups, said Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

"Excessive fanaticism which leads to improperly idolizing somebody is absolutely wrong and unnecessary," she said on Saturday during a ceremony at Wisma Sabha at the governor's office complex in Denpasar.

Her address during the ceremony was conducted without a prepared written text.

"Both the president and I often feel awkward with the various state protocols that we have to go through. So allow me to now speak without a text," she said before she began her speech.

Megawati, accompanied by her husband, Taufik Kiemas, Coordinating Minister for Poverty Elimination Hamzah Haz, and officials of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), was in Bali to assess the damage caused by riots two weeks ago.

Bali Governor Dewa Made Beratha said in his reports that the two-day melee, which began soon after Megawati lost the presidential race to Abdurrahman Wahid on Oct. 20 had caused a total loss of Rp 207 billion.

A large number of people, mostly PDI Perjuangan supporters in Bali and some other cities in the country became angry upon hearing that their idol, chairwoman of PDI Perjuangan, failed to win the presidential seat.

In Bali's cities Denpasar, Badung, Tabanan, Jembrana and Buleleng, resentful PDI Perjuangan supporters ran amok, setting ablaze several state-owned buildings.

The Vice President said she was surprised by the Balinese actions. She said the anarchy reflected people's accumulated dissatisfaction, which had never been channeled.

"People did not know where to channel their aspirations, so violence occurred as a way to express their dissatisfaction. The riots, which happened in several cities in the country, were like initial steps to open the valves for people's aspirations. However, any brutal way of expressing dissatisfaction cannot be condoned," she said.

Therefore, she stressed, a proper way and mechanism should be found to channel people's aspirations to avoid more violence in this era of reform and democracy. "The government should not have been too suspicious of its own people," she said.

She cited what President Abdurrahman Wahid and she did concerning disgruntled employees and officials of the (former) Ministry of Information and Ministry of Social Affairs as an example of efforts to open warm communications with the people.

Soon after the swearing in of the new Cabinet, the President and Vice President received representatives of demonstrators, who demanded that the government review its policy to close down the two ministries.

Discontent

Megawati was given a very warm welcome by the Balinese. People flocked to the ceremony, jostling to get closer when she walked to her car after the ceremony finished.

The eldest daughter of Indonesia's first president, Soekarno, responded to the people's welcome by smiling and waving.

Local figures who were invited to join the gathering with the Vice President, however, felt discontent as there was no time for an open dialog with Megawati. The organizing committee ended the ceremony as soon as the Vice President finished her speech.

Critical local figures, including Putu Suasta, Anak Agung Ngurah Gede Kusuma Wardana, Dewa Gde Palguna, Putu Wirata as well as students and members of a youth organization were seated in the balcony, where there were no microphones.

The main hall, where Megawati was, was filled only by legislators and civilian and military officials.

"It's ironic that we were given no time to talk with the Vice President. Mbak (sister) Mega herself hinted in her address that she wanted a direct dialog with the audience," said Putu Suasta, chairman of Red and White Forum, a local NGO.

Chairman of the Observers of Indonesian Hindu Dharma, Dewa Ngurah Swastha, said, "I was there in formal dress. What's the use of coming here if all we do is just witnessed a ceremony."

After the ceremony, Megawati and her entourage had a close look at the buildings damaged by rioters.

She left Denpasar at 1:15 p.m. for Singaraja, Buleleng, which was the most ravaged by riots. Singaraja is located 120 kilometers north of Denpasar.

The Vice President was scheduled to spend Saturday night at Tampaksiring Palace and fly to Jakarta on Sunday morning. (zen/sur)