Megawati's vision

Megawati's vision

From Media Indonesia

The 1999 general election has offered an interesting program, the debate among presidential hopefuls. It is an entirely new idea here and tends to imitate the American style of liberal democracy. I think the program is good and relevant. Furthermore, it has a wide audience thanks to television coverage and various fora organized by non-governmental organizations and student groups. There is at least one positive side to the debate, i.e. voters can directly assess political leaders, their vision and agendas for reform if elected. It is regrettable that these programs, full of political education for the people, have not been joined by all political party leaders, particularly Megawati Soekarnoputri. Why did she decide not to participate? Is she convinced that she will be victorious in the general election?

Apart from the suitability of a debate among presidential hopefuls in relation to the democratic system we are developing in the era of reform, and also apart from Megawati's absence from the debates, I still do not know the political vision of Megawati or the programs she would implement if elected president.

HADI SUTARNO

Jakarta