THE launching of the book Mereka Bicara Mega (Speaking of Mega) at the Sultan Hotel, Jakarta in early December, was a well-attended event. Hundreds of guests filled the hotel ballroom, including Sultan Hamengku Buwono X, who especially came for the occasion from Yogyakarta.

The star of the event, however, was none other than Megawati Soekarnoputri, the subject of the book, a collection of reminiscences, profiles and even a few critiques of th