Megawati Formed New Government

Indonesia`s new President, Megawati Sukarnoputri, began her first full day in office Tuesday by meeting with the national police chief, General Suroyo Bimantoro, who refused to stand down and protected the People`s Consultative Assembly (MPR)` special assembly for the impeachment of the president Wahid.

However, the former president Wahid still resides in the presidential palace, and his supporters are standing against the army. Moreover, since the party to which Wahid belongs plans to launch the disobedience movement against the new regime, the future of President Megawati is not likely to be smooth.

- According to sources close to the former president Wahid, Wahid, who is refusing the impeachment decision of the MPR, is showing no sign of anxiety or restlessness, humming songs accompanied by the cassette music in the presidential palace. The sources said that Wahid watched the special assembly of the MPR through TV, and joked with his friend Jaya Suprana, who came to encourage him, and spent the time singing. The media reported that Wahid hummed the song according to the Beethoven Symphony after his friend went back home.

- Supporters of the former president Wahid, including the members of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Indonesia`s Muslim organization, gathered in front of the presidential palace Monday morning and have not left the palace until Tuesday afternoon, standing against the heavily armed special squad. They shouted a motto saying ``let`s kill Amien Rais,`` pointing him as the major figure to initiated the impeachment of the former president Wahid. Meanwhile, the PKB, to which the former president Wahid belongs, is threatening to launch the civil disobedience movement through the refusal of paying tax and the return of the resident card, arguing that President Megawati illegally usurped the presidency.

- Although the Western presses forecasted that Indonesia would be stabilized following the inauguration of President Megawati, they were skeptical about her leadership. CNN reported that it was possible that Megawati would become a puppet of the military, who supported her with the military force. AP Press reported that despite her excellent speech capacity of appealing to nationalism, there was widespread concern about her aptitude, especially the possibility that she may be influenced by her husband, Taufic Kiemas, who has close ties with the military and the corrupted business people.

However, BBC analyzed that President Megawati has strengths as she is daughter of founding president Sukarno and is strongly supported by the people.

On Monday, the day of inauguration of President Megawati, the Jakarta stock price increased by 2 percent and the rupiah rose to 10,230 against the U.S. dollar, 8.9 percent increase in comparison with 11,150 on Friday. Once the rupiah rose to 9,950, the highest since Marcy 7. A stock analysis David Jang said, ``Market seems to be positive about the new President Megawati. Although economy of Indonesia is in the worst stage, Megawati is expected to be a capable president.``

Kwon Ki-Tae kkt@donga.com