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Wahid Intends to Watch Human Rights Records Under Megawati
Former Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid said Tuesday he will retire from politics and create a private foundation to monitor human rights under new President Megawati Sukarnoputri.
Earlier this month, Indonesia's national assembly impeached Wahid and replaced him with Megawati, his former deputy. He said he will not clash with the new president as long as she pursues democratization.
''I work for democratization in a moral way...I will set a foundation'' to deal with human rights violations in Indonesia, Wahid, 60, a nearly blind Muslim cleric, said in an interview with Kyodo News.
Some human rights groups in Indonesia have voiced concerns about a possible deterioration in human rights there under Megawati's presidency. Megawati, 54, is the daughter of Indonesia's founding President Sukarno.
The groups are concerned that Megawati, said to be close to the military, might crack down more bluntly than Wahid on separatist movements in Aceh and other parts of Indonesia, placing more emphasis on national integration and political stability.
Wahid reiterated he is still the legitimate president, saying he was deposed unconstitutionally.
Wahid denied the possibility of returning to politics in the near future. But he said he is ready to stand in a presidential race if the situation allows.
Wahid said he underwent the medical checkup at Johns Hopkins Hospital to avoid a recurrence of strokes as his blood pressure has recently been unstable. The results of the examination revealed ''no problem'' with his health, he said.
He leaves Washington on Wednesday for Indonesia via London.
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