Indonesian Leader ‘Not Scared’ of Impeachment

Beleaguered Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid said Tuesday that he is ready to be impeached and, if dumped by lawmakers, will run for the office again.

Until now, Wahid has refused to acknowledge that the nation’s highest legislative body, the People’s Consultative Assembly, might impeach him over allegations of corruption and incompetence.

“I am not scared,” Wahid told a think tank in Jakarta, the capital. “If that happens, I will campaign again.

“I will campaign continuously,” he said. “This is a pledge from a citizen who is going to be impeached.” The next election is due in 2004.

Wahid was elected in October 1999, Indonesia’s first democratically chosen leader in four decades.

His presidency began with hopes of reform but soon became mired in scandal and political infighting. He has come under increasing pressure to resign or share power with Vice President Megawati Sukarnoputri.

He has refused to do either.

Megawati, who rarely talks to the media, has not commented directly about the possible impeachment.

However, in a speech Tuesday in the city of Pekanbaru, 500 miles northwest of Jakarta, Megawati said she was ready to abide by her party’s policy guideline that she should aim to become president.