2nd memorandum inevitable: Major factions<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): With the schedule for the issuance of a second
\nmemorandum of censure just a fortnight away, major factions at
\nthe House of Representatives insisted over the weekend that
\nnothing now could stop them from issuing the second memorandum
\nagainst President Abdurrahman Wahid.<\/p>\n
House Deputy Speaker Tosari Wijaya of the United Development
\nParty (PPP) maintained that the second memorandum was inevitable
\nsince Abdurrahman had not improved his performance as President.<\/p>\n
\"The only thing that could stop the second memorandum would be
\nif Abdurrahman all of a sudden adopted a remarkably different
\napproach and carried out his duties earnestly,\" Tosari told
\njournalists in Semarang, Central Java, on Saturday.<\/p>\n
He further brushed off the possibility that a mass
\nmobilization of Abdurrahman's die-hard supporters to Jakarta
\ncould possibly sway the view of the House.<\/p>\n
\"If there is strong mob pressure to stop the issuance of the
\nsecond memorandum, the police should help, as security officers
\nshould deal with anarchic action by the people,\" Tosari remarked.<\/p>\n
A senior legislator from the Indonesian Democratic Party of
\nStruggle (PDI Perjuangan) also indicated that the largest faction
\nin the House would support the issuance of the second memorandum.<\/p>\n
\"So far, we will likely support issuing the second memorandum
\nbecause we still see many negative points from the President's
\nactions, especially concerning the fight against corruption and
\nthe violation of the presidential oath,\" Jacob Tobing told The
\nJakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Jacob, who is also one of the eight members of the party to
\nassess Abdurrahman's written reply to the first memorandum,
\nfurther said that there had been no significant improvement from
\nthe President concerning these issues.<\/p>\n
\"We will continue to adhere to the constitutional process,
\ndespite continuing informal meetings with the National Awakening
\nParty, as we are committed to keeping the relationship between
\nthe two parties on a good standing,\" Jacob added.<\/p>\n
According to the House's internal rules, once the second
\nmemorandum is issued the President will have another month to
\nrespond to it.<\/p>\n
After that the House can propose the People's Consultative
\nAssembly hold a special session which has the power to impeach
\nhim.<\/p>\n
However it would take another two months before the Assembly
\ncould convene one.<\/p>\n
An Assembly ad hoc committee is also weighing and anticipating
\nthe possibility of accelerating the process further to about two
\nweeks.<\/p>\n
\"Currently, we are anticipating the need to foreshorten the
\ntwo-months...but we have yet to determine whether it is possible
\nto do so,\" committee chairman Rambe Kamarrul Zaman said on
\nSunday.<\/p>\n
Another legislator from PPP Husni Tamrin said, with the
\ncountry's current myriad problems it would be impossible to solve
\nthem in a short time, even if Vice President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri were to take over from Abdurrahman.<\/p>\n
\"Not just Megawati, whoever became the President would not
\nhave the ability to solve the country's complex problems in such
\na short time,\" Husni said as quoted by Antara on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Separately, the National Police plans to conduct a sweep of
\nincoming people to the capital ahead of the House plenary session
\non April 30 on the memorandum process.<\/p>\n
\"We will conduct searches at all disembarkation points for
\nsharp weapons and firearms...but we will not use force to conduct
\nthe searches,\" the National Police spokesman Brig.Gen. Didi
\nWidayadi said in Bandung, West Java, on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Didi said that the searches would be conducted with the
\nagreement of the Nadhatul Ulama Muslim organization, which will
\nhold a mass prayer in the capital on April 29. (dja\/har\/25)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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