Megawati told to address the nation
Megawati told to address the nation
Moch. N. Kurniawan and Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Amien Rais called on
President Megawati Soekarnoputri on Wednesday to address the
nation, instead of her supporters in the Indonesian Democratic
Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), on the problems facing the
country.
Amien, who also chairs the National Mandate Party (PAN), said
Megawati was the country's President and no longer belonged to a
certain group only.
"The loyalty to a party ends where the loyalty to the country
begins," Amien told reporters on the sidelines of a seminar on
religion, democracy and minority groups.
"So, it is not proper to address national problems such as the
street rallies protesting the utility price hikes through a party
forum," he added.
Should Megawati want to improve her performance, she could
start by giving a monthly press conference in her capacity as the
Indonesian President, Amien said.
Amien was commenting on a political speech delivered by
Megawati in her capacity as the PDI Perjuangan chairwoman at a
ceremony marking the party's anniversary on Tuesday. Then she
lashed out at the media and her critics for blowing out of
proportion the recent nationwide antigovernment rallies.
Previously in Bali, Megawati had also addressed her PDI
Perjuangan followers during another ceremony marking the party's
anniversary on her government's policy to increase utility
prices. It was her first official statement regarding the
government's unpopular policy thus far.
Amien also asked Megawati to stop blaming the media for the
continuing antigovernment protests.
He suggested that Megawati realize the current wave of
protests was triggered by the public's dissatisfaction with the
government's policy of raising utility prices.
"She (Megawati) is exaggerating," Amien said.
According to Amien, Megawati and her aides were wrong in
concluding that the ongoing rallies were aimed at toppling the
government.
However, he could understand that Megawati was nervous on
seeing students, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), mothers
and businessmen all united in protesting her utility price hike
policy.
"It's now up to Megawati as the rallies were sparked by the
government's importune policy of raising utility prices," he
said.
Separately, House of Representatives Speaker and Golkar
chairman Akbar Tandjung said that citizens were allowed to
criticize the government as well as to seek solutions to the
nation's problems.
But Akbar said that criticism and protests should not be
transformed into attempts to overthrow the government.
He shared Megawati's view that all issues relating to the
presidential succession had to be undertaken through
constitutional mechanisms, namely general elections.
"I think she (Megawati) is showing political transparency,"
Akbar added.
Meanwhile, Rodjil Ghufron, who chairs the National Awakening
Party (PKB) faction in the House, said that Megawati's speech
before her supporters was a reflection of her decreasing self-
confidence ahead of the general election.
"Megawati is trying to revive the nostalgia of being hailed by
those people who have currently changed their minds because her
policies have greatly burdened them," Rodjil said.
Commenting on Megawati's criticism of the media, Rodjil said
that it reflected her unwillingness to speak and explain her
policies to the people.