Megawati elected as VP

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)