President Gus Dur visits Megawati

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid visited Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri at her official residence on Thursday evening amid speculation of strained relations between the two after the announcement of the new Cabinet lineup on Wednesday.

Accompanied by his second daughter Zannuba Arifah "Yenny" Chafsoh Rahman, and Syaifullah Yusuf, a relative and senior member of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), which Megawati chairs, the President arrived at the vice presidential residence on Jl. Diponegoro at 7:05 p.m.

Yoygakarta sultan Hamengkubuwono X, the newly appointed coordinating minister for political, social and security affairs, Lt. Gen. (ret.) Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and the National Awakening Party (PKB) chairman Matori Abdul Djalil were also present during the meeting.

Just before Abdurrahman's arrival, an official car of the Vice President left the house. Guards at the gate explained to reporters that Megawati's husband Taufik Kiemas had gone to visit a relative.

The meeting itself lasted more than two hours. There was no explanation about the content of the meeting, as the guards at the official residence politely asked journalists not to enter the grounds while the talks were underway.

"Gus Dur likes Ibu Mega's cooking, he often comes here just for the food," an aide close to Abdurrahman said about the purpose of the President's visit.

However, some government officials indicated the President wished to hand over presidential decree No. 121, issued on Wednesday, on the empowerment of the Vice President and to talk to Megawati about the induction of the new Cabinet on Saturday.

"The Vice President inaugurated the previous Cabinet in October. So she is expected to swear in this new team on behalf of the President," said some officials who requested anonymity.

This was Hamengkubuwono's second meeting with Megawati, having met with her at the Merdeka Selatan Palace in the afternoon. The Yogyakarta governor hosted a meeting on Aug. 1 between Megawati, Abdurrahman, People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Amien Rais and House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Akbar Tandjung at his palace in Yogyakarta.

The five-tiered meeting before the MPR Annual Session was regarded as a political breakthrough, paving the way for the unsensational Annual Session.

The Vice President in a clear attempt to play down reports about her rift with the President made a rare press statement on Thursday evening.

Megawati dismissed rumors that she planned to resign as the country's second leader due to her frustration with the President.

She told journalists not to blow up a situation that could lead the nation into trouble. She refrained from commenting on the President's choices for the new Cabinet.

"I still have my office here, and all of us know that the Cabinet has been announced by the President, and the induction ceremony will take place on Saturday," the Vice President told journalists at her office.

Megawati did not attend the announcement of the new Cabinet composition as she left Merdeka Palace shortly before the announcement.

"One important thing I really want is for the situation and condition to remain stable, no matter what. I also hope the press will help," she said.

Outside of her official schedule, the Vice President also received Assembly Speaker Amien Rais, newly promoted Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra, and State Minister of Administrative Reforms Ryaas Rasyid.

Speaking to reporters in the evening, Amien said that Megawati had told him how she had learned about the composition of the Cabinet.

"Mbak Mega knew about the Cabinet composition just one hour before the announcement," Amien said.

After her meeting with Amien and the two ministers, new Minister of Settlement and Regional Infrastructure Erna Witular paid a courtesy call.

Ryaas and Erna, along with Susilo, played a key role in drafting the structure of the Cabinet, while Yusril was assigned to draft Presidential Decree No. 121 on the new duties of the Vice President.

Megawati also met with PDI Perjuangan Secretary General Sutjipto.

Meanwhile, PKB chairman Matori Abdul Djalil denied a possible rift between Abdurrahman and Megawati.

"It's not true. I have telephoned Mbak Mega," Matori, who is also deputy speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly, told reporters on Thursday.

He quoted Megawati as saying that her absence was to avoid hard criticism from the press after the announcement.

"She was given a chance in order not to receive 'punches'. Let Gus Dur take the beating by the press," he said, referring to the President by his nickname.

Matori called on the public to give the Cabinet a chance to work. "Just give them an opportunity to prove that they are better. Let's start thinking of the nation's interests," he said.

Matori said Gus Dur had fulfilled the Assembly's decree on the delegation of responsibility to Megawati, as stated in the Assembly's Annual Session.

The deputy speaker claimed that the composition of the Cabinet was balanced and it represented the political parties, saying that Golkar and the National Mandate Party (PAN) were each represented by two ministers.

The House deputy speaker from PDI Perjuangan, Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno, however, insisted Megawati's absence at the announcement was a reflection of her disappointment with the new Cabinet lineup.

"How can Megawati lead the Cabinet if she does not know well the quality of the Cabinet members?" he added. (prb/jun)