Former President Megawati receives Long Time Achievement Award

Antara News, Friday, December 3, 2010

Hold hands: Former president Megawati Soekarnoputri (right) and former vice president Jusuf Kalla (left) hold hands during the opening ceremony of International Conference of Asian Politics Parties (ICAPP) in Cambodia on Thursday. Megawati received a lifetime achievement award at the conference. (Antara)

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Former President Megawati Soekarnoputri received Long Time Achievement Award for politics at the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) in Cambodia, Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) deputy secretary general Hasto Kristiyanto said here Friday.

Megawati said that her presence on the occasion was proof that Indonesia was a peaceful democratic country, and called on members of the party to draw up a vision for a better future of political parties in Asia.

"All on the basis of the spirit of Pancasila," she said.

Hasto said Megawati was awarded the appreciation at the sixth General Assembly of ICAPP held from Wednesday (1/12) to Saturday (4/12), in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Megawati was also called a tough person and strong political leader who had led a democratic country after winning democratic and presidential election, Hasto said.

Moreover, he added, the first Indonesian woman president also received an appreciation for her father`s reputation as Indonesian first president.

"Megawati, Bung Karno, your father, is so popular in Pakistan," a representative from Pakistan said.

A similar award, presented on Thursday (2/12) evening in Phnom Penh, was also given to the former Philippine president Fidel Ramos.

ICAPP is a forum of Asia-Oceania political parties formed in September 2000, and the sixth ICAPP General Assembly was attended by 85 political parties from more than 35 member countries in Asia.