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Geriatric President’s “crony cabinet” |
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August 25, 2000
JAKARTA (AP) - Speculation of a rift between President Abdurrahman Wahid and his popular deputy grew Thursday as the beleaguered leader was criticized for filling a new Cabinet with his own supporters. Vice President Megawati Sukarnoputri, however, denied rumors that swept financial markets that she would quit. Wahid announced a new 26-member team on Wednesday, hoping to counter opposition to his floundering 10-month-old presidency. However, the move appeared to backfire when newspapers and financial markets reacted badly to his choice, which excluded key Megawati supporters. The Indonesian Observer newspaper labeled it as "a crony Cabinet" - a description once reserved for lineups appointed by ex-dictator Suharto. The Jawa Pos daily described it as "All the President's Men." "President's big gamble," was the headline in the influential Kompas newspaper. Wahid became president last October and has so far failed to mend the economy or to quell violence across the sprawling Southeast Asian nation. Earlier this month the country's top assembly shelved plans to impeach him after he promised to appoint a new Cabinet and give more responsibilities to Megawati. The makeup of the new Cabinet angered some lawmakers. "It is regrettable that he has wasted his last chance," said the assembly's Speaker Amien Rais, who has previously called for the Wahid's removal. Jakarta's nervous stock market fell by more than 4 percent and the value of the currency, the rupiah, dropped 5 percent since Wednesday. New senior economics minister Rizal Ramli dismissed the drop as temporary. Much criticism has been aimed at the Cabinet's new economic team, particularly Finance Minister Prijadi Praptosuhardjo, an old friend of Wahid's. Earlier this year regulators blocked his proposed appointment as head of a state-owned bank after he was judged unfit. Despite market pressure, officials said Prijadi's appointment would proceed. Wahid is expected Friday to promulgate a decree giving more say in the day-to-day work of the Cabinet to Megawati who, until now, has been sidelined from policymaking. She was surprisingly absent when Wahid announced the new Cabinet. "Megawati is not satisfied," said Sophan Sophiaan, one of her advisers and senior legislator. "It will create a big problem for Indonesia. Things are only going to get worse." In an attempt to quell fears of growing political instability, Megawati denied she was going to quit and told reporters "No, my office is still here." |
