Megawati deplores personality cults, assesses riots damages

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)