What's in a name? A lot for Megawati

What's in a name? A lot for Megawati

Reuters, Los Cabos, Mexico

What's in a name? Quite a lot for Indonesian President Megawati
Soekarnoputri.

When introduced at a summit of chief executives in this luxury
Mexican resort by a master of ceremonies, who pronounced her name
by stressing every letter as it was spelt in official papers --
Soekarnoputri -- Indonesia's president was not amused.

"I would like to give my name correctly," she told business
leaders on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
(APEC) summit. "It is not Megawati Soay-karnoputri, but Suuu-
karnoputri," stressed the daughter of Indonesia's founding
president, Sukarno. "That's my name."

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, whose country
had been under Spanish colonial rule like Mexico, cleared the air
later by quipping in flawless Spanish: "It's much easier to
pronounce my name in Spanish."