A sign of Wahid's failing grip?

By Amit Baruah

JAKARTA, MAY 30. Indonesian power politics did manage an entry, albeit briefly, into the G-15 summit. The President, Mr. Abdurrahman Wahid, who is clinically blind, said after brief opening remarks at the inaugural session of the G-15 meeting this morning that his ``speech'' would be read out by the Vice- President, Ms. Megawati Sukarnpoputri.

Soon after making this announcement, Mr. Wahid sat down. But there was no ``speech'' forthcoming from his Vice- President, whose party has backed the convening of a special session of the Upper House of Parliament which could impeach the President.

It appeared to the many dignitaries, delegates and presspersons present that Ms. Megawati had refused to do Mr. Wahid's bidding. However, the compere then announced that Zimbabwe's President, Mr. Robert Mugabe, who finally made it to the summit meeting, would speak next. There was no ``speech'' from Ms. Megawati.

The Indonesian Foreign Minister, Mr. Alwi Shihab, one of the President's close advisers, told reporters later that Ms. Megawati was not supposed to deliver any speech at the inaugural session. Mr. Alwi said the President was mistaken and had mixed up the Vice-President's scheduled speech at the ``closing session'' with one that was supposed to be delivered in his own name. Whatever be the final truth of the matter, the mix-up was embarrassing.

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Section  : International
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