Akbar defends second memorandum of censure<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung
\ndefended on Tuesday the move by six House factions to draft a
\nsecond memorandum of censure before President Abdurrahman Wahid
\nhad replied to the first memorandum.<\/p>\n
"I do not think we have to hold a plenary session to discuss
\nthe President's reply to the first memorandum because there have
\nbeen no significant changes in the performance of the President
\nand the government. It is suitable to deliver the second
\nmemorandum," Akbar said.<\/p>\n
He said Abdurrahman's written reply to the first memorandum of
\ncensure was not the only factor used to appraise the President's
\nperformance.<\/p>\n
"The appraisal of the President's performance is not merely
\nbased on his written reply, but also on his policies and
\nperformance within the three months (since the first memorandum
\nwas issued). These things determine whether the (second)
\nmemorandum will be issued or not," Akbar said.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle faction (PDI
\nPerjuangan), Golkar Party faction, the Reform faction, the United
\nDevelopment faction (F-PP), the Crescent Star Party faction (PBB)
\nand the United Ummat Sovereignty faction (F-PDU) submitted on
\nMonday a draft of a second memorandum of censure.<\/p>\n
Akbar said the House would decide its stance on the second
\nmemorandum during a plenary session this week.<\/p>\n
PDI Perjuangan legislator Sophan Sophiaan said his faction's
\ninvolvement in drafting the second memorandum of censure did not
\ncontradict the party's line.<\/p>\n
"I think Arifin Panigoro (the head of the PDI Perjuangan
\nfaction in the House) has followed the guidelines of the party's
\nexecutive board, which have not yet been delivered to all faction
\nmembers," Sophan said.<\/p>\n
Separately, Minister of Defense Mahfud M.D. said the President
\nwas ready to submit his reply to the first memorandum of censure,
\nwhich was delivered because of his alleged involvement in two
\nfinancial scandals.<\/p>\n
Mahfud accused the House factions of "being afraid of the
\ncontent of the President's reply to the first memorandum, as it
\nwill consist of key answers that will counter the arguments
\nraised by the House special committee (that investigated the two
\nscandals)".<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman has set up a team of six ministers, led by
\nCoordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security Affairs
\nSusilo Bambang Yudhoyono, to draft the reply. The team is being
\nsupervised by Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri.<\/p>\n
"I believe her (Megawati's) presence as the team's supervisor
\nis proper as she represents the government. Regarding her
\nposition as PDI Perjuangan chairwoman, I think she just wants to
\ndistance herself from the move taken by her party," Mahfud said.<\/p>\n
Mahfud said the team would go to the House on Wednesday to
\nask legislators if they planned to summon the President.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the deputy chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU)'s law-
\nmaking body, Said Aqil Siradj, said the move by legislators to
\ndraft a second memorandum of censure could result in "the
\nradicalization of the masses".<\/p>\n
"Democracy needs patience. We regret that there are parties
\npursuing the second memorandum without letting the constitutional
\nmechanisms run their course," Said told journalists here on the
\nsidelines of a seminar on education in the era of regional
\nautonomy.<\/p>\n
He said NU would not be to blame for any mass actions. "The
\npolitical elite are pushing NU against the wall and provoking NU
\nsupporters to take action to express support for Gus Dur."<\/p>\n
"NU has never asked the masses to take action, and we even
\nprevented them for coming to Jakarta in order to avoid violence.
\nHowever, there are parties sending members of other groups who
\nclaim to be NU members," he said.<\/p>\n
Similar criticism was voiced by noted economist Sjahrir, who
\nsaid the move by he six House factions was "regrettable".<\/p>\n
"We are in the process of national destruction, judging by the
\nworsening relationship between the President and the House. I
\nkeep wondering why the House has become so eager to draft the
\nsecond memorandum," Sjahrir said on the sidelines of a media
\nconference on the results of a study on the presidential election
\nand general election systems, carried out by the Association of
\nNew Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Sjahrir, who several months ago demanded Abdurrahman resign,
\nsuggested the President improve his performance by focusing his
\neffort on pulling the country out of the economic crisis.<\/p>\n
In Bandung, political observer Azyumardi Azra said the House
\nmust wait until three months had passed since the issuance of the
\nfirst memorandum of censure before drafting a second memorandum.
\n(02\/25\/dja\/edt)<\/p>",
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