Megawati elected as VP

JAKARTA (JP): The curtains came down on Thursday on the three- week political drama at the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) with the election of Megawati Soekarnoputri as the country's new Vice President.

"To my children across the nation, I ask you to sincerely return to your work and not to engage in emotional acts, because as you can see for yourself your mother now stands on this podium," said Megawati in her acceptance speech.

Wearing a traditional kebaya dress, the leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) was sworn in during the evening ceremony as Indonesia's eighth Vice President and the first woman to occupy the post. President Abdurrahman attended the ceremony.

Looking on from the wings of the Assembly Main Hall were several of her predecessors -- B.J. Habibie, Try Sutrisno and Sudharmono.

Her election puts an end to the national guessing game of who would lead the nation into the next millennium following the June 7 General Election.

Megawati, the leading presidential candidate at the start of the Assembly's General Session on Oct. 1, was defeated by Abdurrahman 373 to 313 in Wednesday's vote.

She defeated on Thursday afternoon United Development Party (PPP) chairman Hamzah Haz 396 to 284 in a dramatic race which saw two other candidates -- Golkar Party chief Akbar Tandjung and Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Wiranto drop out at the last minute. Five abstentions were recorded during the vote.

In her inauguration speech, which could very well have been her draft presidential address, the daughter of Indonesia's first president embraced all political elements in the society and pledged her commitment to establish a strong and corruption-free government and an independent judiciary.

In apparent reference to the ugly street protests which followed her loss to Abdurrahman, Megawati called on the nation, and her supporters in particular, to unite behind the new government.

She also paid homage to Hamzah, Wiranto, Akbar and even former president Habibie.

Megawati praised Hamzah for his conviction in staying on in the vice presidential race, and honored Wiranto and Akbar for their honorable moves in withdrawing their nominations.

To Habibie, Megawati conveyed her thanks and extended a pledge of friendship despite the political differences.

"Let me convey my sincere thanks to my brother B.J. Habibie for his contribution in energy and thought whilst conducting his duties as president.

"I must say this because even though in political affairs my brother B.J. Habibie and Megawati Soekarnoputri may be at opposite ends, but in friendship and brotherhood, believe me, no political force in this country could make us face each other as enemies," the 52-year-old mother of three said to resounding applause.

Without directly admonishing the Indonesian Military and the National Police, Megawati effectively underlined the need to create a sense of peace in the nation.

"To the TNI/police, please believe that together with President Abdurrahman Wahid we will work together to make the Indonesian Military and police a provider of a sense of peace and security."

Megawati called on the media and students to remain a critical voice in the society.

Her election victory helped calm violence which had erupted in Jakarta and other areas including Surakarta in Central Java, Medan in North Sumatra and Bali.

PDI Perjuangan supporters were seen dancing until late into the night on Jakarta's main thoroughfares.

Drama

Megawati had been widely expected to secure the presidency following PDI Perjuangan's victory in the general election and especially after Habibie's accountability speech was rejected.

There was a prevailing sense on Thursday among many Assembly members that given the national expectations, Megawati should be accorded a role in the new government.

In a surprising move, the National Awakening Party (PKB) nominated Megawati for the vice presidential post.

Assembly Deputy Speaker Matori Abdul Djalil acknowledged that he and his party had worked hard to seek last minute support for Megawati.

"Thanks to Allah, we have succeeded in lobbying the Golkar and Indonesian Military factions to lend their support to Megawati," he said in a break in the vice presidential election.

Matori said he and his faction had a moral obligation to seek a suitable position for Megawati following her defeat in the presidential election.

"Thank God, the nomination of Megawati as vice presidential candidate obtained support from Mas Amien and his faction's members," he said referring to Assembly Speaker Amien Rais and the Reform faction.

Golkar deputy chairman Slamet Effendy Yusuf said the decision was taken for the sake of national unity.

"After taking all things, including the political situation into consideration, Bung Akbar decided to resign from the vice presidential election and all faction members were allowed to freely cast their vote for existing vice presidential candidates," he said.

Minutes before the vice presidential election, Akbar interrupted and announced his withdrawal from the race.

He stressed that national unity was more important thing than a government post.

Akbar's announcement brought a string of crucial events into motion.

Assembly Speaker Amien Rais then read a letter just handed to him from Gen. Wiranto which announced the head of the Indonesian Military's withdrawal from the race.

Wiranto was nominated for the vice presidency by the United Ummat Sovereignty Faction.

Golkar Party legislator Marwah Daud Ibrahim, a known ally of former President B.J. Habibie, made a last ditch effort to apparently stall Megawati's expected victory before the ballot began by asking the Assembly to consider the possibility of having more than one vice president.

However Golkar Party faction leader in the Assembly Marzuki Darusman immediately responded by saying that this was a personal view of Marwah.

He then turned around and slapped Marwah's microphone in apparent disgust.

Apart from die-hard Habibie supporters, opposition against Megawati came from several Muslim based parties.

Amien called for a recess in the apparent hope that a consensus would be reached on the matter.

After a one hour recess, the Assembly reconvened.

Attempts were made to convince Hamzah to resign from the race. However the attempts failed and the decision went to a vote.

"Of course, it is good to make a decision through consensus. But a secret ballot is no longer taboo," Hamzah said after casting his vote in the ballot.

Matori said that in the ballot Megawati obtained more than 120 votes from the Golkar and TNI factions, in addition to a combined tally of about 260 votes from the PDI Perjuangan and National Awakening factions.

"A majority of the 65-member interest group faction also lent their support to Megawati.

"So, before the ballot, I was confident Mbak Mega would pocket about 400 votes from the 691-member Assembly," he said.

PDI Perjuangan legislator Yosep Umarhadi said he appreciated the role the National Awakening faction played in order for Megawati to obtain the vice presidency.

"We thank God for Megawati's victory in the ballot. It is the success of Pak Matori and his faction to lobby other factions," he said.

Creating a sense of calm across the country seemed to be the overwhelming factor in the support for Megawati.

Amien, who vehemently tried to convince Hamzah to withdraw in the closed door meetings during the recess, was not shy in expressing his relief.

"Common sense won, I'm very satisfied with this healthy result. I'm sure that with Megawati's victory the situation will now be calmer," Amien said.

"Hopefully with this victory everything which in the past few days which seemed to be torn apart can be whole again...All the psychological barriers will disappear. My colleagues in the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle who were frustrated yesterday are now relieved. It was a beautiful move!" (team)