MEGAWATI SUKARNOPUTRI

October 21, 1999
		Defeated by Abdurrahman Wahid for the Indonesian presidency, Megawati Sukarnoputri has been selected to become the country's vice president. -- Posted 12:30 PM ET

Online NewsHour Special Report: Indonesia Oct. 20, 1999: Wahid selected as Indonesia's 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. Browse the NewsHour's coverage of Asia.     Former Indonesian President B.J. Habibie Presidential candidate Megawati Sukarnoputri Indonesian Department of Foreign Affairs

The popular political leader was widely expected to be selected president Wednesday, when Indonesia's People's Consultative Assembly instead chose Wahid, leader of the country's largest Muslim congregation. Though she was visibly shocked Wednesday when she did not win the presidency, a tearful Megawati appeared pleased to begin her term as vice president. "I thank God for this, and I will do my best for the republic of Indonesia," she said Thursday. Megawati, daughter of Indonesia's first president Sukarno, has been an outspoken critic of the Indonesian government for years. Though her party had not won a majority in June's parliamentary elections, Megawati had drummed up a groundswell of political support, mostly among the poor and in urban areas. Throughout her campaign, Megawati focused her criticisms on sitting president B.J. Habibie, on whom she blamed the recent international intervention in East Timor. In an editorial in Newsweek International titled "Blame it on Habibie," Megawati wrote that the president's handling of East Timor has tarnished Indonesia's reputation. "The daily barrage of news about our country and people portrays us as a nation that loves to kill and torture," she wrote. "Friends and associates abroad report that Indonesians are subjected to taunts and disdain everywhere they go. We are accused of murder, torture and violations of basic human rights. The outside world seems to believe that we have lost our sense of humanity." Before running for the president, Megawati headed the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) from 1993 until she was ousted in 1996. According to Megawati, pressure from Indonesia's military prompted her removal. Since then, she has remained active in her party's politics. What has fueled Megawati's popularity is her crusade against the Indonesian status quo, set up, she says, during the 30-year rule of president Suharto, which ended in 1998. Megawati argues that, though Habibie has promised to reform the Indonesian government, he has simply continued the policies established under Suharto. "To many leaders of the world, Habibie appears to be a democrat, a supporter of human rights. That is a pity," she wrote in Newsweek International. "The international community, including the world's media, has elevated him to this undeserved stature. In fact, Habibie's government is a continuation of Suharto's New Order regime; they are one and the same." She has also criticized her father's administration, which lasted from Indonesia's independence in 1945 until Suharto ousted him in 1966. She told Inside Indonesia, in a 1996 interview, that she wanted to ensure a stable presidential succession process. "If we look at history we can see that Indonesian political life is stilted. In 51 years of independence, the nation has only had two Presidents. The first was President Sukarno, who was declared President for Life by the MPR [Indonesia's People's Consultative Assembly's upper house]. And this is not entirely in accordance with our constitution," she said. Now that she has been defeated in the presidential election she was expected to win, Megawati's next move is very much in question. She has not indicated whether she will seek or accept the vice presidency or any other appointments from the new president. Current concerns revolve around the violent outbursts from Megawati supporters, who have rampaged through the streets of Indonesian cities since the election results were announced despite her calls for order. Many say her selection as vice president may quell the violence on Indonesia's streets.