PICKING A PRESDIENT

October 20, 1999
		Indonesia's legislature chose Muslim leader Abdurrahman Wahid as Indonesia's next president, passing over both popular favorite Megawati Sukarnoputri and sitting president B.J. Habibie. Three people who know Wahid discuss the situation after this background report.

Online NewsHour Special Report: Indonesia July 8, 1999: A discussion about Indonesia's new president July 8, 1999: A discussion on Indonesia's election process. June 2, 1998: Indonesia attempts to form a democratic government. May 22, 1998: A discussion on changes in the Indonesian government. May 21, 1998: Indonesia in the wake of Suharto's resignation. May 20, 1998: Should Suharto resign? May 19, 1998: Suharto announces plans to step down. May 15, 1998: A report on the riots in Jakarta. May 14, 1998: Students protest against Suharto. March 10, 1998: A discussion on Indonesia's economic importance. Feb. 27, 1998: Can Indonesia restore confidence in its currency? Jan. 9, 1998: Indonesia's stock markets take a tumble. Oct. 11, 1996: Two East Timorese dissidents win the Nobel Peace Prize. Browse the NewsHour's coverage of Asia.     Former Indonesian President B.J. Habibie Presidential candidate Megawati Sukarnoputri Indonesian Department of Foreign Affairs	A capital in chaos
	MARK AUSTIN, Independent Television News: This evening Jakarta is once again a capital in chaos. Riot police firing into rampaging crowds, and as a day of violence and death draws to a close, one of the city's biggest buildings, the convention center, is burning. The hope was that democracy would bring peace to Indonesia, but in the event on the streets outside the country's parliament today, there were running battles with police. These are supporters of the defeated presidential candidate Megawati Sukarno Putri, supporters who had threatened violence if she lost, and carried out their threats within minutes of the vote being announced. Hundreds of police were brought in to confront the angry mobs, but neither tear gas nor rubber bullets could contain them. One policeman was singled out for attack by the crowd, and his life in danger, he was pulled to safety by security men. Amid the mayhem, several explosions. This car bomb is reported to have killed two people and injured dozens more. There were two other bomb blasts in Jakarta throughout the day. Earlier it had all looked very different for the Megawati camp. With President Habibie out of the race, she looked to be favorite. The ruling Gulcar Party didn't even field the candidate. Instead, they threw their weight behind Abdurrahman Wahid. The near-blind cleric heads Indonesia's largest Muslim organization. He's a charming, wily man who once supported Megawati, but having suffered two strokes, he hardly looks like presidential material. The ballot was tense and close. Wahid's victory was quickly celebrated by the Muslim parties. They dislike the idea of a secular woman as president. Riot police were deployed to the gates of parliament. Thousands of Megawati supporters had flooded into the city. To them, their "Mega" had a moral right to the presidency, her party having won the majority of the vote at the general election. At first, they thought she had won; any other result seemed inconceivable. But as the grim reality set in, there was anger. Megawati has appealed to her supporters to clear the streets and accept the results. But right now, that's the last thing on the minds of those who feel they were robbed of the presidency. The violence didn't prevent the swearing in this evening of Wahid as president. Most agree he's a moderate and honest man. He won widespread respect during the harsh Suharto era for standing up to Indonesia's old dictator. The violence was continuing tonight. Political stability looks as elusive as ever for the world's fourth most populous country.