Novice Is Popular Choice in Indonesia

If the government fulfills its pledge to hold elections next summer, the front-runner in the presidential race is likely to be a shy, principled woman with an illustrious family and a fairly bare resume.

Megawati Sukarnoputri, 51, is remote, an uninspiring speaker and apolitical at heart. But as the daughter of Indonesia’s founding father, the late Sukarno, she has emerged from the pack of would-be presidents to command a following of millions as well as the respect of even those who doubt her political expertise.

Her greatest attribute, supporters and critics alike say, is that she is untainted by corruption, nepotism or a close association with President B. J. Habibie or his predecessor and mentor, Suharto, who was toppled in a popular uprising in May after 32 years in power.

“Indonesians are so disgusted with anything bearing the Suharto imprint that Megawati is seen as a breath of fresh air,” a Western diplomat said. “Throw in the magic of her father’s name, the fact she’s squeaky clean and her advocacy of moderation, nationalism and democracy, and it’s little wonder she’s become the clear front-runner.”

Megawati and Indonesia’s other opposition leaders have had no voice in the deliberations of the People’s Consultative Assembly, which Habibie called into special session Tuesday to legislate reforms intended to pave the way for national elections and democracy.

The 1,000-member assembly is heavily stacked with old-guard Suharto supporters, and many Indonesians doubt the sincerity of its announced intentions. For the second straight day here in the capital, there were scattered clashes Wednesday between security forces and students marching to denounce the assembly session and Habibie. No serious injuries were reported. Today, Gen. Wiranto, Indonesia’s military chief, apologized for Wednesday’s violence and asked for forgiveness from the victims and their families.

More than 80 political parties have been formed since Suharto was toppled. Most are expected to slip into oblivion, leaving Megawati’s Indonesian Democratic Party, the National Mandate Party, led by Muslim scholar Amien Rais, and Habibie’s Golkar party as the major players in national elections.

Megawati has formed an alliance with Abdul Rahman Wahid, leader of a moderate Muslim group with 28 million members. He favors a secular state, whereas Rais, who also heads a Muslim organization with millions of members, leans toward a more fundamentalist interpretation of Islam.

Mega--as Indonesians call her--was raised as a child of privilege. During Suharto’s reign, Megawati’s party chose her as its leader. As her popularity grew, Suharto removed her as the party’s chairwoman in mid-1996 and installed his own man. But last month in Bali, thousands of party supporters overwhelmingly chose her as their candidate for president.

If the assembly in Jakarta passes the necessary reforms, Indonesians will vote in May or June for a parliament. Members of the new parliament will then become part of the People’s Consultative Assembly, which in turn will choose a new president in December 1999.