National Conscience Movement Figures Meet Megawati to Discuss National Issues

The National Conscience Movement (GNB) met with PDIP Chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri at the Megawati Institute in Jakarta on Monday (22/6). GNB member Lukman Hakim Saifuddin stated the purpose of the meeting was to maintain friendly relations. “Equally important is that we share information regarding the situation and condition of our societal life, including, of course, governmental and national life,” Lukman said after the meeting. Besides Lukman, other GNB figures were present, including GNB Chair Sinta Nuriyah Wahid, Jakarta Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo, Father Franz Magnis Suseno, and Laode M. Syarif. Also attending were PDIP faction members of the House of Representatives Pinka Haprani, Hendrawan Supratikno, Selly Andriany Gantina, and Bonnie Triyana, as well as PDIP politician Andi Widjajanto. Cardinal Suharyo said they gathered to discuss and exchange ideas about the nation. “So that we can see reality properly and correctly. Not with emotion, not with vested interests, but purely for the sake of our nation,” Cardinal Suharyo remarked. Meanwhile, Laode Syarif raised the issue of the legislative process in the House of Representatives, which he assessed as proceeding without adequate public consultation. He even stated that the aspirations of the public are not reflected in the laws produced by the House and the government. “For example, the revision of the Police Law. It does not accommodate at all the recommendations provided by the Reform Commission,” Laode said. During the meeting, Megawati shared a moment of closeness with GNB Chair Sinta Nuriyah Wahid. Megawati served as Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia alongside Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) in 1999. Gus Dur served as President only until 2001, when he was impeached by the People’s Consultative Assembly after issuing a Presidential Decree dissolving the House and the Assembly. Megawati then ascended to become the 5th President of Indonesia, serving until 2004.