President puts aside protocol to meet protesters
JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid and Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri shrugged off security protocol to meet hundreds of people who staged a protest across the street from Merdeka Palace on Friday.
Abdurrahman insisted on meeting with employees of the defunct ministry of social services to assure them that the government would not let them suffer following the abolishment of their office.
"Why should I be afraid to meet them? They are my own children," he responded to some palace officials who tried to prevent him from leaving the compound.
Presidential security guard chief Maj. Gen. Suwandi opened the palace gate. The President had previously ordered guards to remain unarmed and not to break up the demonstration violently.
"Our President is a bonek, so we must follow his order," Suwandi said as he gave instructions to his staff. Bonek refers to the Javanese acronym for a daring soccer fan.
The dialog between the President with the protesters took place after the swearing-in ceremony of his Cabinet members at the State Guest House.
Abdurrahman and Megawati waved their hands to the crowd, who were protesting a few hundred meters away from the palace. First Lady Sinta Nuriyah and Megawati's husband Taufik Kiemas also accompanied their spouses.
"Madame Sinta used to participate in demonstrations despite her poor health, so for her this is nothing new," said one of the officers.
Nationwide protests broke out following Abdurrahman's decision to scrap the ministry of information and ministry of social services from his 35-strong Cabinet. Among those taking to the streets on Friday were government employees in Central Java's capital of Semarang and West Sumatra's capital of Padang.
"Mr. President, please do not abandon us and our family," one of the protesters' representatives told Abdurrahman. Another representative, a blind man, listened attentively to the President.
Abdurrahman insisted that he would not back down, but promised he would do his best for the 23,000 employees of the social services ministry and the other 50,000 staff members of the ministry of information.
"I will not let you suffer alone," the President assured them.
Separately, House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Akbar Tandjung met on Friday some 30 representatives of more than 5,000 people who rallied against the ministry of social services' closure outside the legislative building.
"I understand that not all affairs can be handed over to society or provincial administration since coordination is still needed at the national level," Akbar said, who is also the chairman of the Golkar Party.
Abdurrahman considered the abolishment of the information and social services ministries to limit the government's control over the affairs of society.
The President also based his decision on the fact that the central government would give more authority to the regional administration as part of regional autonomy.
Disabled people and community based social workers also joined the rally at the House.
The delegation told Akbar that even developed countries, such as the United States, have their own social services.
Yasril Ananta Baharuddin, the chairman of the House Commission I for defense, security affairs and information told The Jakarta Post that the commission would exercise its right to ask the President to explain his decision to disband the two ministries. (05/28/asa/edt/har/prb)