Megawati pledges to uphold national unity

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)