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Indonesia's vice president warns of national disintegration
Associated Press 21 May 2001
As Indonesia's political crisis intensifies, the vice president warned that the nation could break up and become "the sick man of Asia."
Vice President Megawati Sukarnoputri's comments come nine days before parliament is expected to demand the impeachment of President Abdurrahman Wahid over allegations of corruption and incompetence. If Wahid is ousted in the coming months, Megawati, the daughter of Indonesia's founding leader Sukarno, is almost certain to take the top job.
Also on Monday, a senior minister denied speculation that Wahid plans to replace the military's top brass, declare a state of emergency and dissolve parliament before lawmakers can act against him.
"The people and the media have been tricked by rumors that actually have no basis," said Defense Minister Mohammad Mahfud. "These rumors are designed to heat up the atmosphere."
Earlier in a speech to a military think–tank, Megawati said that many countries had disintegrated in recent years, and that it could also happen to Indonesia, which has 210 million people and 13,000 islands, some wracked by separatist and communal violence.
"We must learn so that that kind of tragedy does not occur in our beloved land," she said.
Over the weekend, nine people died in the religious conflict between Muslims and Christians in the Maluku islands and in a separatist war in Aceh, on Indonesia's northwestern tip.
"We are now facing some critical moments in politics, the economy, culture as well as for our defense and security," she said.
Unless Indonesia successfully dealt with challenges to its transition to democracy, "we will descend and become the sick man of Asia," Megawati said.
In recent weeks top army generals have publicly warned Wahid not to try to dissolve parliament following reports that he intended to declare martial law.
Wahid has repeatedly denied that he has any such plans. However, his spokesman has confirmed that he has discussed the possibility with senior officers.
On Monday, Wahid made a conciliatory overture to the military, saying that he wanted to modernize its aging equipment, much of which dates back to the 1950s and 60s.
"This is something that is unforgivable," Wahid said at a ceremony where he awarded a top Indonesian military honor to Maj. Gen. Lim Chuan Poh, the chief of Singapore's defense force.
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