DATE=8/26/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=INDONESIA / CABINET (L)
NUMBER=2-265871
BYLINE=PATRICIA NUNAN
DATELINE=JAKARTA
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid has
inaugurated his controversial new cabinet. The
president had come under fire for his selection which
many said would drive a wedge between him and Vice-
President Megawati Sukarnoputri. But as Patricia
NUNAN reports from Jakarta, Ms. Megawati attended the
inauguration which many analysts say is a sign of
unity between the two leaders.
TEXT: /// ACT OF SWEARING IN, FADES UNDER ///
Vice President Megawati Sukarnoputri read the oath of
office to the 26 members of Indonesia's new
presidential cabinet. The group was sworn in Saturday
after President Abdurrahman Wahid announced he had
dumped his previous cabinet three days earlier.
Ms. Megawati's attendance of the inauguration ceremony
is seen as a sign of warmer relations between her and
Mr. Wahid, after speculation grew that there had been
a falling out between the two leaders over the cabinet
roster.
Only two of the new cabinet ministers are from Ms.
Megawati's party, the People's Democratic Party of
Struggle. Most of the officials are friends and
associates of Mr. Wahid.
Ms. Megawati did not attend the in the announcement of
the new cabinet line-up earlier in the week.
President Wahid then paid a visit to the vice-
president at her private residence. The content of
their discussion was not released, but analysts say it
was an obvious gesture to smooth over any problems
between the two.
The relationship between Ms. Megawati and the new
cabinet has gained importance since President Wahid
empowered her to carry out more the daily tasks of
running the administration. The vice-president will
now be in charge of chairing cabinet meetings and
setting the priorities of the administration. She will
have the authority to review the performance of
individual ministers.
Mr. Wahid made the decision to give Ms. Megawati more
responsibilities after he came under fire for
ineffective governance during the annual session of
the People's Consultative Assembly -- Indonesia's
highest legislative body.
The move helped appease angry lawmakers, some of whom
called for the president to be impeached. President
Wahid's earlier cabinet was made up of officials from
various political parties. However it quickly became
factionalized -- leading to criticism that the
president was incapable of pulling Indonesia out of
its economic and political crises. (SIGNED)
NEB/PN/KBK
26-Aug-2000 04:38 AM EDT (26-Aug-2000 0838 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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