Megawati warns of outburst of anger over unfair election
JAKARTA (JP): Megawati Soekarnoputri warned on Sunday of possible outbursts of popular anger if the June 7 general election failed to proceed freely and fairly.
The chairwoman of the popular faction of the splintered Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) was addressing a gathering of 6,000 supporters at the faction's headquarters in Lenteng Agung, South Jakarta. She then called on the government to keep its promise of a fair and open poll.
"I strongly warn the power holders in this country: Don't even think of rigging the election as you did in the past. Don't abuse power to manipulate the people's sovereignty," she said.
Otherwise, she continued, it would be difficult "for whoever is in power to appease the people's anger.
"This is an early warning. To avoid possible unrest, I suggest the government heed the people's aspirations," she told the red- clad, flag-waving supporters who braved heavy rains from her shelter inside a tent.
She also called on her supporters and the public in general not to fall for any forms of political conspiracy, money politics or violence used by certain parties to maintain the status quo.
Wearing a black traditional blouse or kebaya and red sarong, complete with the traditional hair bun sanggul, Megawati started the 16 page speech at about 5 p.m.
Among party executives present were Alex Litaay, Sophan Sophiaan, scholar Kwik Kian Gie, Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno and Lt. Gen. (ret) Theo Syafei.
Megawati blamed recent unrest in the country on parties seeking to create a state of emergency in order to have the planned general election called off. She did not name any names.
Megawati said the people's distrust and continual unrest were due to, among other things, the lack of legitimacy of the current government and the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR)/House of Representatives (DPR).
"The government along with all the MPR/DPR members were like ostriches," she said.
Manipulation
Political engineering, manipulation, intimidation, terror and money politics have influenced the forming of three political bills, she charged.
The moral and intellectual crisis that the country was suffering from was evident in the fact that bureaucrats now admitted their past mistakes but passed the blame on to former president Soeharto.
"What can you expect from irresponsible leaders with such a mentality? They may claim to be members of a Reform Cabinet but many of them are still Soeharto's cronies," she charged.
As for the worsening economic conditions, Megawati reiterated that it is all because the government always relied on foreign loans. She cited the bad debts amounting to Rp 300 trillion that the country suffered from.
She said the power holders have refused to admit that "balanced budget is only one way of saying a 'deficit' budget."
"They cover this deficit with short-term foreign loans which impose a burden on the people in the long run," she said.
On the Armed Forces sociopolitical role, Megawati called for the military to return to its original function as the protector of the people.
"If ABRI chooses to stay in the wrong place and play a wrongful role...it would lead to a greater gap between civilians and military."
At the end of her speech, Megawati delivered five demands to the government in order to end the country's misery. They included:
* firm action to eradicate collusion, corruption and nepotism through legal procedures and to bolster the action with clear political decisions;
* concrete action in dealing with the worsening economic turmoil;
* respect for the people's sovereignty in the June election. (edt)