Susan Sim, Jakarta – Opposition leader Megawati Soekarnoputri marks the first anniversary of her ouster by a government-backed faction today, cheered by reports that she has been nominated for this year's Nobel Peace Prize.
Aides of the former Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) chief told The Sunday Times yesterday that they had been informed by reliable sources of her nomination.
Spokesman Subagio Anam said that her backers included President Bill Clinton, the United States Congress and human-rights groups abroad.
The Norwegian Ambassador to Indonesia, Mr J.W. Hegg, whose country has been awarding the Nobel prizes in various fields of endeavour since the beginning of the century, said he was aware of the reports.
However, he told The Sunday Times that he had no information on the procedures of the Oslo-based Nobel Committee as it was non-governmental and its deliberations were closed.
Mr Subagio told The Sunday Times yesterday that Ms Megawati, daughter of founding President Sukarno, was "of course very glad" to hear of her nomination. "She said it's not unexpected because President Clinton had known her for a long time," he added, noting that they had met in the late 80s when the President was still governor of Arkansas.
While Megawati detractors have said that her real worth to the pro-democracy movement here was symbolic rather than substantial since she did not appear to have a national agenda or vision for the country, she has been shrewd in portraying a more dynamic image abroad, especially in the US.
In April, at the request of a congressional committee, she issued in her name a manifesto titled Restoring Democracy, Justice And Order In Indonesia: An Agenda For Reform.
The 20-page document, available only in English, called, among other things, for the government to stop its practice of approving all leadership appointments in all political organisations, and to reform electoral laws that require government clearance of all those eligible to stand for parliamentary elections.
Ms Megawati herself had been deposed as PDI leader by a military-backed congress last June when she beat incumbent Soerjadi in party elections over government objections.
A stand-off mounted by her supporters in Jakarta subsequently climaxed in the July 27 riots which claimed at least four lives.
Although she has always maintained that she is the lawful leader, she was subsequently barred from contesting last month's polls.
Analysts said yesterday that if the reports of Ms Megawati's nomination were true, the authorities here would be very upset.
The government had reacted with shock and anger last year when two East Timorese critics of its rule of the former Portuguese colony, Dili Bishop Carlos Belo and pro-independence leader in exile Jose Ramos-Horta were declared joint Nobel Peace Prize winners.