INDONESIA'S DARK HORSE

October 20, 1999
		In a move that surprised many, Indonesia's legislature chose Muslim leader Abdurrahman Wahid as Indonesia's next president Wednesday, passing over both popular favorite Megawati Sukarnoputri and sitting president B.J. Habibie. -- Posted 2:45 PM ET

Online NewsHour Special Report: Indonesia 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. Browse the NewsHour's coverage of Asia.     Former Indonesian President B.J. Habibie Presidential candidate Megawati Sukarnoputri Indonesian Department of Foreign Affairs

Many Indonesians had questioned whether Wahid, better known in the area as Gus Dur, was healthy enough to even stand as a candidate. The 59-year-old has suffered a stroke, is partly blind and had to be helped the podium where his acceptance speech was read for him. Megawati, who was widely expected to win the parliament's approval, was visibly shocked by the decision. Before Tuesday, when the Indonesian parliament gave a vote of no confidence to President B.J. Habibie, Megawati had been the leading candidate. But Habibie withdrew from the race early Wednesday, allowing the legislature, controlled by Habibie's own party, to select Wahid. The decision sparked violent reactions from crowds in the capital of Jakarta. Thousands gathered outside the parliament building clashed with riot police, who began controlling the rock-throwing crowd with batons and tear gas. Two bombs reportedly exploded in Jakarta and reports of injuries are on the rise. By nightfall, troops had opened fire on pro-Megawati protesters, who had set the concrete-walled Jakarta Convention Center on fire. Many officials and political opponents called for calm. "For the sake of national unity, I call on all Indonesians to accept this situation," Megawati said in a brief televised speech after the vote. Sworn in Wednesday night, Wahid said he would try work to unite the archipelago's millions of citizens. "The assembly has given me a duty...to uphold justice and promote prosperity for as many people as possible," he said. Many Indonesia experts wonder how Wahid, known mostly as the head of the country's largest Muslim organization, will fare in taking on Indonesia's political and economic problems. "Gus Dur is seen as more of an individual player than a team player and that makes it very difficult to predict what the policy direction will be," Sri Mulyani Indrawati, an economist at the University of Indonesia, told Reuters. Also a worry is the new president's potent health problems. "Given his health, we don't know what this will mean. Given that he's had two strokes and is in such bad health, if he drops dead any minute, it's obviously the vice president who's going to be the long-term president," Adrian Vickers, an Indonesia expert at the University of Wollongong, Australia, said. In line for vice president are a number of officials from Indonesia's powerful military. Indonesia's military commander Gen. Wiranto is one of the names in circulation, as is Megawati. The international community has responded cautiously to the election, and Indonesia watchers say Wahid's policy decisions in the coming days are pivotal to bringing stability to the troubled archipelago.