|
|
|
|
Web-only Exclusives November 30, 2000 From Our Correspondent: Hirohito and the War A conversation with biographer Herbert Bix From Our Correspondent: A Rough Road Ahead Bad news for the Philippines - and some others From Our Correspondent: Making Enemies Indonesia needs friends. So why is it picking fights? |
Fighting for Her Rights
Megawati asserts the law is on her side
MEGAWATI SUKARNOPUTRI HAS TAKEN her fight for political survival to the courts. She insists that the government must recognize her rights under the Constitution. Senior Correspondent Keith Loveard talked with her last week about the government's attempts to block her. Excerpts:
Your critics say that you have very little experience in politics and rarely attended Parliament.
I always fulfilled my duties and spent a lot of time visiting the regions as a member of Parliament. I also did a lot of work for the [PDI] party. My job was to tell people that as citizens they had rights and responsibilities. It seemed to me that people have fulfilled their responsibilities, but have not been given their rights.
Were the free-speech forums at the PDI headquarters protected under the Constitution?
Our Constitution guarantees the right to form associations and express opinions. We have an Asian culture, and we have our own way of expressing such opinions in a way that is polite, and not in a harsh or aggressive way.
The police have called you in for questioning. How will you respond?
From the beginning I have followed a program by which I have stayed within the law, and as a nation we should act in a way that is based in law. If I am called by the police, I am quite happy to assist as long as the process is within the law.
If the government arrests you, will you consider that unconstitutional?
Yes. That is why I have insisted on staying within the law. I want to open the eyes of the people and the international community that this is a nation based on law and not on the exercise of power. The process I am facing will make it clear how seriously the law is taken here. The other day, my case against the government was delayed for three weeks, only because the judge had a toothache. This does not make sense.
You carry a very powerful name. Do you think that is why you are under attack?
It is possible it is because my father was Sukarno. However, if I did not have the resolve to direct myself in a certain way, I don't think that name would mean much. People would see that Megawati Sukarnoputri was the daughter of Sukarno, but that would be all.
Are you ready to face whatever might happen to you?
I have already said that I believe Indonesia is a nation based on law. I hope our people retain a sense of justice, whether it is officials, the military or the ordinary people. Has that sense of justice already been killed? What we have seen recently is an attempt by people to bring it back to life.
 |
