Megawati returns to political debate

Megawati returns to political debate

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

President Megawati Soekarnoputri chose to remain silent about the
many awaiting problems upon arrival at the country on Saturday,
from a two-week overseas trip to Europe.

Amid questions of the importance of her trip, none of the
presidential entourage was sent to talk to awaiting journalists
at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in East Jakarta.

Upon arrival, Megawati was greeted by Vice President Hamzah
Haz, Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Gen. Endriartono Sutarto
and the chiefs of staff of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force.

Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Coordinating Minister for the Economy
Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti and National Police Chief Gen. Da'i
Bachtiar also greeted Megawati at the airport.

Governor Sutiyoso, in traditional Betawi dress, also took time
to greet the President even though he was slated to open the
Jakarta anniversary celebration later on Saturday.

Several journalists whispered that Sutiyoso would rather be
late to open the ceremony than not greet Megawati ahead of the
Jakarta gubernatorial election.

Megawati held a five-minute talk with Hamzah before getting in
her car and leaving the airport.

Her arrival was delayed from 3 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. due to a
routine stopover in Singapore, which Megawati invariably makes
while on an overseas trip.

A presidential confidante, however, said the stopover was
either to meet Singaporean Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew or for a
brief medical checkup.

But many have commented that it was the habit of the President
to go shopping in Singapore.

Debates over a possible Cabinet reshuffle, voting rights for
military personnel, the Jakarta gubernatorial election and the
controversial bankruptcy ruling on the Canada-based Manulife
insurance firm await Megawati's attention.

During the two-week trip, the President refrained from giving
straight answers to explain her stance on and opinion of the
issues.

In the last media conference in Slovakia on Friday, Megawati
surprised people when she questioned the readiness of Indonesians
for a direct presidential election.

"Can we comply with the rules and regulations of a direct
presidential election?" she asked.

In a survey by Taylor Nelson Sofres Indonesia, 78 percent of
the respondents wanted a direct presidential election.

The government claimed that the trip opened the possibility
for Indonesia to find an alternative supplier of military
equipment in Europe to overcome the U.S. military embargo on
Indonesia.

The President has expressed an intention to buy several
helicopters from Slovakia and other military equipment from Czech
Republic.