Megawati: "No Radical Change"
Megawati Sukarnoputri, daughter of Indonesia's charismatic founder Sukarno and a leading presidential contender, spoke last week in Jakarta with TIME correspondent Terry McCarthy. Excerpts from the interview:
TIME: Should former President Suharto be tried in court?
Megawati: This is a country based on the rule of law. The TIME report [published May 24] should be used as a reference for investigating Suharto's wealth. I agree with the presumption of innocence until proved guilty, but that doesn't mean we should presume he is free from this guilt.
TIME: President Habibie has been slow to speak out on this issue. Does Suharto still have influence over him?
Megawati: It is quite clear this government is an extension of Suharto's. The current government is hesitant to bring Suharto to justice. He should uphold justice.
TIME: Will you be able to work with the military after the elections?
Megawati: I never seek enemies. I would like to unite all the components of the nation. ABRI [the military] was born from the people, from our Indonesian history, and I consider it an integral part of our nation.
TIME: Could you accept General Wiranto as your vice president?
Megawati: That's a different matter. It all depends on the people of Indonesia.
TIME: Do you accept the need for radical change to return power to the provinces to determine their own budgets?
Megawati: Don't talk about radical change in this place. There are so many islands in Indonesia where conditions are very fragile. Radical change will only make things more difficult.
TIME: You have indicated you are not in favor of independence for East Timor.
Megawati: Problems in East Timor have developed to the stage that might encourage others to follow. The current government has taken steps too hastily. This might create new problems in the future, destabilize the entire country and prevent us from getting out of this economic crisis.
TIME: Should the momentum for independence be slowed down, or stopped?
Megawati: I am not going to escape from the realities. We understand an agreement has been signed by two countries and endorsed by the United Nations. But I want to warn about the implementation. This plan has not been well-prepared by our government. It has not done its homework. Proposing a referendum now is very risky, with election results coming out in July and then a referendum in August.
TIME: How to return to your father's vision of an all-embracing, pluralist Indonesia?
Megawati: When our founding fathers started this nation-state they understood the future country's cultural diversity. They left us with two things to deal with it: Pancasila and the 1945 constitution. What went wrong was its implementation by Suharto. The current government Javanized everything.
TIME: Is this a historic moment for Indonesia?
Megawati: It is my firm belief that in the end, the people's will will be realized.
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