2nd memorandum still expected<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Although President Abdurrahman Wahid will appear
\nbefore the House of Representatives (DPR) to reply to the House
\nof Representatives' first memorandum of censure today, the
\nlegislature is still likely to proceed with a second memorandum,
\na move that could lead to impeachment of the embattled president.<\/p>\n
The President will give his reply to a House memorandum,
\nissued on Feb. 1, in relation to his alleged role in the
\nmisappropriation of Rp 35 billion (US$3.5 million) from the State
\nLogistics Agency (Bulog) and a $2 million donation from the
\nSultan of Brunei.<\/p>\n
Presidential spokesman Wimar Witoelar said on Tuesday that
\nJustice and Human Rights Minister Baharuddin Lopa had been chosen
\nto read the President's response on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\"The President will make a short introductory speech and the
\nresponse will then be read out by Bapak Baharuddin Lopa,\" Wimar
\ntold reporters at Merdeka Palace.<\/p>\n
Baharuddin was among several Cabinet members assigned to draft
\nthe President's response to the memorandum.<\/p>\n
House Speaker Akbar Tandjung called on legislators to listen
\nto the President's response patiently and not to interrupt the
\nplenary session while it is being read.<\/p>\n
\"Legislators are allowed to comment on the President's speech
\nwhen factions give their responses in a plenary session on
\nFriday,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Asked about the House's possible reaction to the President's
\nstatement, Akbar said the House and the President could make a
\ncompromise on power-sharing to settle the memorandum peacefully.<\/p>\n
\"One alternative solution is that the President focus on his
\nstate duties, while the administration is completely handed over
\nto the Vice President,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Almost all House factions have agreed that a second memorandum
\nbe issued if the President's response is unsatisfactory.<\/p>\n
\"Our faction will evaluate the President's response to the
\nfirst memorandum and any improvement in the government following
\nthe issuance of the memorandum,\" Syamsul Muarif, chairman of the
\nGolkar faction, said.<\/p>\n
\"We will most likely propose the issuance of a second
\nmemorandum if the President just delivers rhetoric in the plenary
\nsession and makes no improvement in the government,\" Syamsul
\nadded.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Military (TNI)\/Police faction said it would be
\nobjective in evaluating the President's response.<\/p>\n
\"We will make an objective evaluation for the sake of the
\nnation,\" Maj. Gen. Budi Harsono, chairman of the TNI\/Police
\nfaction, said.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan)
\nasserted that its faction would support the planned issuance of
\nthe second memorandum and the calls for a special session of the
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly (MPR) to impeach the President, as
\nlong as such measures were constitutional.<\/p>\n
\"Our stance will depend on the President's response to the
\nmemorandum. PDI Perjuangan will support the issuance of the
\nsecond memorandum and even a special session to impeach the
\nPresident if the response is unsatisfactory,\" he said, referring
\nto the 1978 MPR decree on special sessions.<\/p>\n
\"It is also unclear as to whether the Vice President will be
\npresent at the plenary session or not,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Proceed<\/p>\n
Separately, chairman of the United Development Party (PPP)
\nfaction Ali Marwan Hanan said the President's statement will not
\nhave any effect at all, as the House will proceed with issuing a
\nsecond memorandum.<\/p>\n
\"With or without his reply, we will issue the second
\nmemorandum,\" Ali said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, noted Muslim scholar Nurcholish Madjid called on
\nthe President to step down voluntarily to avoid worsening the
\npolitical and economic condition.<\/p>\n
\"It's better for Gus Dur to step down voluntarily to avoid
\npossible impeachment, a constitutional action which will be more
\ntragic than the collapse of previous regimes. It will be very
\nshocking and more tragic if Gus Dur is impeached by the
\nAssembly,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Nurcholish warned that the country's economy would collapse if
\nthe President failed to convince the World Bank and the IMF to
\ndisburse its delayed US$400 million loan tranche to Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Regret<\/p>\n
Separately, Minister of Defense Mahfud MD hinted that the
\nPresident would state that he had never opposed the memorandum,
\nbut paid enough attention to it by replying in person.<\/p>\n
\"And I think that his regret will be expressed in his written
\nresponse,\" Mahfud told journalists on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
He said that the 16 pages of the President's written statement
\nwill explain legal aspects of Abdurrahman's stance and clarify
\nhis innocence in the two financial scandals.<\/p>\n
A Cabinet source told The Jakarta Post that the President will
\npublicly apologize for what had been happening in the country as
\na result of the two financial scandals.<\/p>\n
\"The main aim of the response is for the President to try to
\nshift the onus of proving his alleged role in both cases,\" the
\nsource said. (rms\/byg\/dja)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/2nd-memorandum-still-expected-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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