Yesterday (19/4), President Wahid made a statement regarding the Vice President’s support for him before the national plenary board meeting of the “1945 generation”. The President attended the meeting, which was closed to journalists, following the Indonesia Next seminar at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Jakarta.
In a press release received by Tempo Magazine last night (19/4), President Wahid stated that Vice President Megawati had said to him during a breakfast session some time ago, “Mas (Brother) Dur, we will remain in the same positions. You will remain as President and I as Vice President until 2004.”
During a conversation with Bambang Kesowo this morning, Kesowo quoted Mega as saying that the discussion was about whether or not the DPR second memorandum is in accordance with the constitution. Kesowo also quoted Mega as saying that, according to President Wahid, the second memorandum was unconstitutional.
“Mrs Megawati only said, ‘How could that be, Mas?’ As for the rest, she didn’t say anything else.” Kesowo added that the conversation had not taken place during a breakfast session. Rather, the discussion took place during a lunch session on Wednesday, April 18, at the Vice President’s official residence on Teuku Umar Street in Jakarta.
Kesowo added that this morning the Vice President had read headlines in the national newspapers mentioning her support for President Wahid. Kesowo declined to give any comment on whether Mega’s had directed him to straighten out the news.