A routine breakfast: Megawati

By Amit Baruah

SINGAPORE, MAY 23. It may not be business-as-usual between the Indonesian President, Mr. Abdurrahman Wahid, and his Vice- President, Ms. Megawati Sukarnoputri, but it is certainly breakfast-as-usual.

As Ms. Megawati served notice on the President for his job, the two leaders, who are personal friends, continued their practice of having breakfast every week - like they did today in Jakarta.

Present at the breakfast meeting were several top Ministers and Generals. What did discussed was not divulged.

It is, however, known that Ms. Megawati cooks for her friend, the President, who is clinically blind and has serious health problems.

In the typically Javanese way of doing things, the political and personal have reportedly been kept apart by the two friends.

``This is the bizarre thing about Indonesian politics - people cannot distinguish between personal relationships from what is related to State and political duties and obligations,'' Ms. Megawati was quoted as saying in a radio interview.

``My personal relations with Mas Dur (a reference to Mr. Wahid) are good. We have never behaved the way people in dispute treat each other. Other people may refuse to speak to each other if they have a difference of opinion, but we haven't done that all,'' Ms. Megawati maintained.

``As you all can see, every Wednesday there is breakfast at my residence, which is often blown out of proportion. Breakfast is quite simple, where we can talk casually. But, of course, the discussions concern the current political developments.''

Of late, Ms. Megawati has been more assertive, talking about the state of the nation and the need for political leaders to deliver to the people rather than strengthening their personal power base.

``I was elected Vice-President through a different process. So it's incorrect if people think that a Vice-President should support the President. The Vice-President is elected to help the President, not to become the President's aide,'' said the Vice- President during the course of the radio interview.

Asked if the current administration had proved to be ineffective, Ms. Megawati said there was need to distinguish between the problems of the country and those faced by Mr. Wahid personally.

``We have to face the fact that it will be very difficult for the Government to cope with these (national) problems as they cannot be settled overnight. That is why we have to work hard.''

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Section  : International
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