Megawati speaks in Bali

As the leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), President Megawati Soekarnoputri, whose paternal grandmother is Balinese, delivered a passionate speech in Bali on Sunday.

The occasion was the 30th anniversary of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), which commemorated the birth of the party 30 years ago, when a number of nationalistic parties plus two small Christian parties (Protestant and Catholic) merged into a single party. This move was on the recommendation of President Soeharto, who wanted to streamline and simplify the profile of Indonesia's domestic politics. Historically, however, Megawati's PDI Perjuangan was formed as a splinter organization in a meeting of party dissidents in Surabaya only in 1996.

It was Megawati's first public speech after her controversial decision to raise the prices of fuel oils, electricity and telephone services. Obviously, the audience, which was estimated at about 10,000 people, were Megawati supporters. It is therefore misleading that she should feel psychologically satisfied at the boisterous response that she received from a loyal audience. Consequently, that warm response side-tracked her from reading out a well-prepared speech that, among others, contained references to the issue of terrorism and the urgent need for reform in state judicial institutions. She could have used the opportunity in Bali to address the nation, and not only the limited audience in front of her, on her overall policy approach.

She did touch superficially on the fact that the price increases are a bitter necessity for improving the long-term welfare of the Indonesian people. The danger of her Bali appearance, however, is that she will pay even less heed to the critical opinions and constructive criticisms that are aired by both opinion leaders and the media. Psychologically, she now feels confident in the belief that having spoken directly to the people, she would be able to rally strong support for her policies.

It is this kind of misplaced political confidence and the illusion of the efficacy of her political power that could give rise to new problems in the coming days and months.