Will a new Megawati hold the reins?

Will a new Megawati hold the reins?

Susanto Pudjomartono, Editor-at-Large, The Jakarta Post

A number of editors were invited to join President Megawati
Soekarnoputri's entourage on her visit to the United States and
Japan from Sept. 14 through Sept. 30. The following is a report
and the conclusion of The Jakarta Post's editor-at-large.

Beaming broadly, President Megawati Soekarnoputri disembarked
Sunday last week from the Garuda plane that brought her back from
the United States and Japan after a two-week visit. Few would
notice, or guess, that it was a different Megawati who returned
home from overseas.

The change is slight, and more inside than out, but it is
palpable and any keen observer can notice it: Megawati now has
much more self-confidence than before. Apparently, the meeting
with the world's most powerful leaders like President George W.
Bush and Prime Minister Yunichiro Koizumi, and the satisfaction
of a successful trip, has improved her self-esteem.

The change is there to see. She is not only more confident,
but also more skillful. For example, during her meeting with
President George W. Bush at the White House on Sept. 19, Megawati
was at first slightly tense, but was visibly more at ease after
she deftly side-stepped a question from a White House reporter
who queried her on Vice President Hamzah Haz's comments on the
Sept. 11 attacks which differed from the Indonesian government
official line.

"What stands is my previous statement," Megawati said. "We
condemn terrorism. I'm the President of the Republic of
Indonesia". This simple "I'm in command" statement stopped
further queries.

But the turning point occurred on the evening of Sept. 19
during a gala dinner at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Washington. The
dinner was organized jointly by the U.S.-Indonesia Society, the
U.S.-ASEAN Business Council, the American Chamber of Commerce and
the American-Indonesian Chamber of Commerce.

Some 400 guests, including U.S. congressmen, businesspeople,
academics and "friends of Indonesia" attended the dinner. Despite
suggestions from her staff, President Megawati insisted on
delivering her speech in English.

And what a speech she delivered.

Her first opening remarks, about her initial hesitancy to
continue her planned trip to U.S. because of the Sept. 11
attacks, and her decision to continue with the visit for, among
other reasons, to share Americans' grief and to mourn the tragedy
that befell a friend, drew a long ovation from the guests.

Suddenly the ice melted. Minutes later all eyes were on her
lips, waiting for her next words. And she lived up to their
expectations. To thunderous approval, she quoted Jefferson and
Lincoln, explained the situation in Indonesia, the shortcomings
and the problems, in a dignified manner, without ever uttering
the word "beg".

She said that the two countries, Indonesia and the U.S.,
needed each other, a kind of symbiosis, and both shared the same
dream: To build and live in democracy and equality, and to pursue
happiness.

The response was overwhelming. Former U.S. ambassador to
Indonesia Edward Masters may have rightly summed up the feeling
in the audience when he said in his speech, "Madam President,
after hearing your excellent speech, from now on no one will ever
underestimate you again."

The most possible reasons for the warm response is because it
hit squarely on the current American psyche after the Sept. 11
attacks. Its strength also lay in Megawati's simple, direct and
down-to-earth approach. The fact that Megawati was almost close
to tears when she concluded her remarks, which did not go
unnoticed by the audience, and affected some of the women, added
to the guests' mood on that evening.

The speech obviously boosted President Megawati's morale and
self-confidence. Thus, it is a pity that it was the only
inspiring public speech that she delivered to an international
audience during her trip. Others were mostly a repetition of the
Sept. 19 speech but with less fire and effect.

Her speech in the acceptance of a honorary doctorate from
Waseda University, Japan, on Sept. 29 was even poorly prepared,
revealing the fact that some serious steps should be immediately
taken to address the problem: How to build a strong and capable
staff to improve the quality of official presidential speeches.

The question now is, will this new confidence affect President
Megawati's future style of governing? She is known for her
consistency in upholding her principles, but how firm can she be?
Will she show more "I'm in command" decisions?

The public has every right to expect the President to be more
firm in dealing with certain issues, even sensitive ones, like
that relating to the jihad or the planned "sweeps" against
foreigners by some zealous organizations. Given the increasingly
messy situation, especially in law and order, some strong steps
should be taken to solve it.

One should not forget that the anti-Megawati feeling is still
too strong to be ignored. Any soft spot on Megawati's side would
certainly be capitalized upon to undermine her power and
legitimacy.

And there is every reason to be worried. Of late, some high-
ranking officials have openly complained that the government
often shows indecisiveness, hesitancy and a tendency to waver
when dealing with certain issues, a remark indirectly targeted at
Megawati.

Surely, this issue must be addressed immediately. Hopefully
President Megawati's improved self-confidence will help her show
strong leadership -- which, especially now, is in dire need by
the nation.