Abdurrahman's last effort at compromise gets cool reaction<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): There was but a cool reaction as President
\nAbdurrahman Wahid made a last ditch on Thursday effort to call a
\nmeeting of political party leaders in a bid to seek a compromise.<\/p>\n
The key to the gathering would be the presence of Vice
\nPresident and Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
\nPerjuangan) chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri who remained
\nnoncommittal about the meeting which has been proposed for
\nSaturday at Bogor Palace.<\/p>\n
Megawati is already scheduled to leave for Singapore on Friday
\nfor a medical check-up, at the end of her official visit to East
\nKalimantan and thus there has been no confirmation of her
\nattendance.<\/p>\n
This is the second time in the past three months she has gone
\nfor a medical check-up on the island state. No explanation was
\ngiven on the upcoming medical.<\/p>\n
PDI Perjuangan deputy secretary-general Pramono Anung said she
\nhas so far given no signal or comment about the proposed meeting.<\/p>\n
\"We haven't received any invitation, but so far Ibu Megawati
\nhasn't signaled her intent about the meeting and only she can
\ndecide whether she wants to attend,\" Pramono told The Jakarta
\nPost on Thursday.<\/p>\n
\"I cannot tell you whether she is going to come or not because
\nshe hasn't said anything,\" he added.<\/p>\n
President Abdurrahman is in a desperate race to save his
\npresidency with the People's Consultative Assembly due to convene
\na special session on Aug. 1 to seek his accountability.<\/p>\n
If during the session his accountability is rejected, Megawati
\nwould become his successor.<\/p>\n
Presidential spokesman Yahya Staquf disclosed Abdurrahman's
\nlatest offer on Thursday afternoon without saying if any party
\nleaders had confirmed their attendance.<\/p>\n
\"We are still contacting them. I think we will know at the
\nappropriate time who will attend,\" Yahya said.<\/p>\n
This is the second time Abdurrahman has attempted a meeting of
\nparty leaders to seek a compromise. The previous attempt failed
\nwith Megawati refusing to attend.<\/p>\n
Many have pointed out the key role of Megawati and Golkar
\nParty chairman Akbar Tandjung in any political gathering.<\/p>\n
Between them the two parties hold 367 seats in the 700 member
\nAssembly.<\/p>\n
Akbar on Thursday while indicating that he would be willing to
\nattend, stressed that Megawati's presence was crucial if the
\nmeeting was to be of any significance.<\/p>\n
\"The President should approach Ibu Mega personally,\" Akbar
\nremarked. \"It will be more significant with the presence of PDI
\nPerjuangan.\"<\/p>\n
He suggested that given the Vice President's prior schedule it
\nmay be wise to reschedule for a more convenient time.<\/p>\n
But Abdurrahman's planned meeting may already be upstaged by a
\nlater meeting of party leaders hosted by PDI Perjuangan about a
\nfortnight from now which quickly received a warm response.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile United Development Party (PPP) secretary-general
\nAlimarwan Hanan hinted on the possibility of party chairman
\nHamzah Haz attending Saturday's meeting.<\/p>\n
\"If two warring countries can hold dialogs, why can't we do so
\nbetween politicians. It doesn't matter what the result may be,
\nthe point is we meet,\" Alimarwan told the Post.<\/p>\n
But National Mandate Party chairman Amien Rais was in no mood
\nto entertain Abdurrahman saying that as the Assembly speaker it
\nwould be highly inappropriate for him to attend a meeting and
\nthen later chair the special session which is expected to impeach
\nthe President.<\/p>\n
Party secretary-general Hatta Radjasa also said that \"if there
\nis any meeting it should be after the special session.\"<\/p>\n
In a related development, the government on Thursday finally
\napproved the disbursement of some Rp 20 billion (about US$1.79
\nmillion) from the state budget to finance the special session
\nfollowing complaints from legislators of funding problems.<\/p>\n
\"The funding for the special session has been approved, the
\ndirector general for state budget will follow up on it,\" Minister
\nof Finance Rizal Ramli said on Thursday on the sidelines of a
\nhearing with the House of Representatives' Commission IX, which
\noversees financial affairs.<\/p>\n
Rizal dismissed speculation that the government had been
\nreluctant to disburse the funds.<\/p>\n
\"Don't use conspiracy theories on me, let's act like adults,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
The government has also allocated Rp 21 billion from the state
\nbudget for the Assembly annual session, the date of which remains
\nuncertain. (dja\/prb\/bkm)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/abdurrahmans-last-effort-at-compromise-gets-cool-reaction-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}