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