Tricky trap for Megawati

Tricky trap for Megawati

I am writing in response to Willem Oltmans letter of June 2.

If you declare yourself a friend of Sukarno, Indonesia's first
president, having known him intimately (so you say), you should
not insult his daughter. Obviously you are not a friend of
Megawati Soekarnoputri's late father because if you were, you
would know that Megawati lived, breathed and ate politics for
breakfast, lunch and dinner. You have absolutely no faith in
Megawati's capabilities, unlike many Indonesians. Thank God we do
not depend on the likes of you to run this country because you
are a born pessimist.

How could Megawati destroy the myth of Sukarno, her being his
daughter. If you say that the only thing she has in common with
her father is her genes, then you apparently have never attended
or have witnessed her campaigns. She is the reincarnation of her
father. You letter is full of insults and you should apologize to
Megawati.

You are certainly not a friend of our former president. It is
quite apparent that you are one of those old-fashioned
conservative men who believe that only men should run a country.
Obviously happy that Benazir Bhutto failed. But you do not
realize that Benazir is still a force to be reckoned with and
still has a bit of influence in Pakistan, where her views and
opinions are still very much respected.

You should also apologize to the people of Pakistan because
you have also insulted them.

Many Asian countries were and are run by women, so why
shouldn't Megawati be given the job to lead our country. As a
man, Soeharto certainly made an economic, political and social
mess of this country, so it is high time for a completely new
government. And whether it is run by a man or a woman does not
matter.

LYNNA VAN DER ZEE-OEHMKE

Jakarta