Megawati's slip may signal rift with Gus Dur

Megawati's slip may signal rift with Gus Dur

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid played down the
conspicuous absence of Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri
during the announcement of the new Cabinet at the Merdeka Palace
on Wednesday which raised speculations of a rift between the two.

"She was in hurry to have a bath," the President said when a
journalist asked why she was not present at such an important
announcement.

"She said 'I haven't taken a shower. I'd like to have a bath
first.' You can't stop a woman," he said.

Sources close to the Vice President insisted Megawati left the
Palace just before the announcement because she was disappointed
with the Cabinet's composition and Gus Dur's unilateral
decisions.

"Ibu Megawati was upset because the President betrayed her
trust again. The lineup of the Cabinet was different from the
list she had agreed earlier in the afternoon," one source, who
asked not to be named, told The Jakarta Post.

Megawati arrived at the President's official residence at
15:30, 30 minutes before the announcement.

The two leaders had lunched together at her official residence
on Jl. Diponegoro after a farewell meeting with members of the
outgoing Cabinet. During the luncheon meeting, Megawati insisted
that Kwik Kian Gie retain his post as coordinating minister for
the economy. Abdurrahman promised to consider it again.

Another source disclosed the President decided to announce the
Cabinet at 4:00 p.m. shortly after his meeting with Megawati.

Abdurrahman and Megawati have had a series of meetings since
Sunday discussing the lineup of the Cabinet. They were expected
to conclude their deliberations and announce the Cabinet lineup
on Wednesday or Thursday.

Even staff at the presidential office were taken by surprise
at the decision to announce it earlier than planned. Instead of
being written in a presidential decree, the Cabinet list was
simply written on presidential stationary as an announcement.

"Ibu Megawati thought she was summoned by Gus Dur for more
deliberations. She was very surprised when she was told about the
latest changes and the new names on the list," said the source,
who knows Megawati well.

It remained unclear on Wednesday whether Megawati would still
accept the President's plan entrusting her with the day-to-day
running of the administration.

Cabinet Secretary Marsilam Simanjuntak disclosed that the
President had signed Decree No. 121 on Wednesday empowering the
Vice President. Marsilam is scheduled to hand over the decree to
Megawati on Thursday.

"Gus Dur can sign 50 decrees on my new duties, but I have
known him for long time, it won't work. He is not ready to share
his duties with me," a Megawati advisor quoted her as saying
about the President's plan.

Despite her disappointment, the Vice President would not make
public her feelings, preferring to let the people decide about
the President's future, the source said.

"She will not criticize him in public. But I really don't know
whether she will agree to install the new Cabinet on his behalf,"
said the source. (prb)