Megawati pledges to uphold national unity

BANDUNG (JP): Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri stated on Friday that she would not tolerate the call for freedom in several parts of the country, saying that it was a country's right to maintain its territorial integrity.

"Concerning the intention of some citizens to separate from Indonesia, in my opinion there is no country in the world that would tolerate disintegration," Megawati said.

"Beside, international law guarantees the territorial integrity of a country, especially when that country has stated its commitment to human rights," she added in her speech at the Bandung Institute of Technology during a centennial celebration of former president Sukarno's birth. Sukarno was born on June 6.

Sukarno, who was her father, graduated from the state-run educational institute.

She said that, to deal with the problem of disintegration, the country should correct many of its policies and further tone down people's calls for independence.

"I believe that we can provide more room for people to regulate themselves especially during the implementation of regional autonomy," she further added.

Megawati also cited that security and economic failures were responsible for the downfall of successive Indonesian governments. "The downfall of several administrations in the country has largely been related to uncertainties in both fields," she said.

"To get out of the continuing crisis, it is important for all national leaders to swiftly revive the economic field, provide security guarantees and uphold the rule of law," Megawati remarked.

Megawati, who is also chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, would be President Abdurrahman Wahid's successor should the President be impeached by the People's Consultative Assembly special session.

She also said the nation's leaders should take responsibility for the poverty and backwardness of the people.

"Personally, I'm inclined to conclude that responsibility must lie with all ranks of leadership, either those in the community, in national movements, or in formal state structures," she said.

Megawati, however, was greeted with protests by some 200 students from the institute, rejecting the presence of all members of the political elite, whom they claim are responsible for many of the country's problems.

The demonstration ended with a clash between protesters and police that left three police officers injured.

The injuries occurred when students began to throw rocks at the police after the police had tried to block the protesters from entering the venue.

None of the students were arrested or injured in the incident.(25/dja)