Megawati promises order - and control

JAKARTA - Indonesia's new leader has promised to restore order to the troubled nation and apologised to the rebellious provinces of Aceh and Irian Jaya for decades of human rights abuses.

But President Megawati Sukarnoputri warned the two resource-rich regions at either end of the archipelago that they would never be allowed to break away.

In a long speech yesterday marking the anniversary of independence from Dutch rule 56 years ago, Megawati said it would take time to drag the country out of four years of economic and political mayhem.

The daughter of Indonesia's founding father Sukarno took power more than three weeks ago, but until now has said little about how she plans to steer the world's fourth most populous country - 210 million people - out of one of the most dire periods in its history.

"Our multitude of crises certainly cannot be overcome all at once ... Only by working together can we gradually emerge from this time which has been very painful for us all," she said in an address to Parliament that was broadcast nationwide.

Megawati pulled no punches in assessing the country's woes, adding that improving security and preventing any provinces breaking away were among her priorities.

She said gross human rights abuses by the military must be dealt with, but she also urged the armed forces to maintain the territorial integrity of the nation - a pursuit that has led soldiers into brutality.

Megawati promised to fight corruption, revealing that she had asked her family to remain clean and had ordered cabinet ministers to disclose their wealth.

Measures transferring control of finances to far-flung regions would remain in place, she said.

While Megawati apologised to the six million people living in misery in Aceh and Irian Jaya, she ruled out independence.

"We convey our deep apologies to our brothers who have long suffered as a result of inappropriate national policies," she said, adding that an apology was not enough and had to be backed by new initiatives.

Megawati made clear to the international community that the option given to East Timor to break free in 1999 was not open to Aceh or Irian Jaya, where thousands have died during decades of struggle.

The President said she hoped the people of Aceh and Irian Jaya would accept autonomy packages on offer that would give them a greater say in running their own affairs.

Her speech largely sidestepped any specific plans to revive the economy by wooing back investors and rebuilding the banking sector, but she is expected to give a separate account on the economy and the Budget to Parliament next month.

Megawati said the constitution - a vague document drawn up by her father - needed fixing if Indonesia was to avoid the recent political instability.

- REUTERS

Feature: Indonesia

CIA World Factbook: Indonesia (with map)

Dept. of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia

Antara news agency

Indonesian Observer

The Jakarta Post

UN Transitional Administration in E Timor

East Timor Action Network