Megawati' popularity falls as her party weakens

Tiarma Siboro and Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

President Megawati Soekarnoputri held a small feast on Tuesday to celebrate her first year in power but may have to gear up for a tougher year ahead amid signs of dropping popularity.

Taking the whole day off after attending a celebration of National Children's Day at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, Megawati told children how she barely noticed that one year had passed since she was sworn in as President.

"Today, I had a very beautiful gift. I was sworn in a President last year. I almost forgot about it," she told hundreds of cheering children.

When some of the more curious children asked her whether it was nice to be President, she said smilingly "I enjoy many things, but there are always other things I am unable to achieve."

These other things, however, are costing Megawati her popularity.

Critics bemoan her weak leadership in curbing corruption, bringing peace to Aceh and most of all reaching out to the common people who in 1999 made up the bulk of her supporters.

The daily Kompas in its Tuesday edition said almost 72 percent of 1,773 respondents polled said they were disappointed with the present government.

A poll by Detik.com Internet news portal showed that 70 percent of its 1,000 respondents considered Megawati a failure.

On the streets, the area in front of Merdeka Palace was host to a slew of protests deploring Megawati's one-year rule.

One year of Megawati's government equals 10 years of the Soeharto government, read a long banner displayed outside the palace by a group called 2002 Revolutionary Front.

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) chairperson, Megawati, marked her first anniversary in power with a small feast at her home.

Flower arrangements adorned the entrance, including one from the chief of the National Intelligence Agency (BNI), Hendropriyono.

According to a staff member at the residence, party members had ordered two traditional nasi tumpeng, for Megawati to cut and distribute among the dozens of members present.

"We just had a small feast, nothing special," said Jacob Tobing a party member who chairs a committee discussing constitutional reform at the Peoples' Consultative Assembly (MPR).

U.S. President George W. Bush, called to congratulate the President and expressed his appreciation for her efforts to curb terrorism, Associated Press reported.

Elsewhere, the momentum was seized by critics of PDI Perjuangan to launch what they hope would be its future contender: the Bung Karno Nationalist Party (PNBK).

Bung Karno, as Megawati's father was called, Indonesia's first president Soekarno, still continues to wield immense influence among the people three decades after his death.

Eros Djarot, singer, composer and most of all PDI Perjuangan dissident, announced the new party and said it would be officially declared on Wednesday. Eros is expected to lead the new party.

It was unclear whether PNBK could retain its name as parties are not allowed to use the names and pictures of people.

Eros said an option was to name it the Independent Nationalist Bull Party without changing its acronym PNBK.

Earlier this month several nationalist-humanist' figures from 14 provinces met to share their dissatisfaction over Megawati, he said.

"We think they (the government) have failed to build on the reform spirit and have departed from the ideas of our founding fathers."

The result of that meeting was a plan for a new party. In the three weeks that followed it had formed 24 provincial chapters, he said.

Eros and his new party is no exemption. Dimyati Hartono, a former member of the House of Representatives Commission II on legal and home affairs, resigned from both the House and PDI Perjuangan in February.

He later established a party he called the Indonesian Motherland Party (PITA).

Dimyati said he was fed up with the worsening rifts and internal rivalry among party leaders.

Equally frustrated, long-time Megawati supporter Sophan Sophiaan, then chairman of PDI Perjuangan faction at the MPR, quit his seat in the MPR and also the House.

The latest resignation came from House member Indira earlier this month. She quit in protest over Megawati's move to block an investigation into House Speaker Akbar Tandjung over graft allegations.

Analysts say the moves from some of PDI Perjuangan top members have been detrimental to both the party's image and its unity.

But while high level rifts are normal, they say, the biggest blow has come with members of the party openly opposing Megawati's policies.

This followed her controversial decision to back Governor Sutiyoso for a second five-year term.

In 1997 he was the Jakarta Military Commander, and many hold him responsible for the bloody attack against PDI headquarters that resulted in the disappearance of many party members and other civilians.

Megawati has not given any explanation for her support of Sutiyoso while suspicions abound of a political deal with Sutiyoso.

"As a friend, I don't even recognize Megawati anymore," Eros said.