Amien calls for peaceful session<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): On the eve of the resumption of the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR), Amien Rais, the speaker of the
\nhighest law-making body, appealed to party leaders to cooperate
\nfor the sake of a smooth session.<\/p>\n
Amien said on Wednesday the party leaders could sit down
\ntogether and talk about crucial matters, including a power-
\nsharing arrangement, in a bid to ease tension among them.<\/p>\n
\"I suspect there has been mutual distrust among political
\nparties in the Assembly since communication among them fails in
\nspite of their good intentions,\" Amien told reporters.<\/p>\n
\"It would be nice if Mbak Megawati, Akbar Tandjung, Gus Dur,
\nmyself, Yusril, Nur Mahmudi, Hamzah Haz, Edi Sudrajat and
\nWiranto, or his representatives, could all sit down together and
\ntalk heart-to-heart about finding the best solutions for the
\nproblems the nation is now facing,\" Amien said, referring to a
\nprevious meeting between Indonesian Military chief Gen. Wiranto
\nand leaders of major parties prior to the MPR session late last
\nmonth.<\/p>\n
\"That would be so much better than mobilizing people or
\nthreatening supporters of other parties,\" said Amien.<\/p>\n
He said the talks would help the Assembly reach the assurance
\nthat the upcoming sessions could run untroubled.<\/p>\n
\"The preliminary talks do not necessarily mean backroom
\npolitics, because the party leaders do not have anything to
\nconceal,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Amien also said that as the Assembly's speaker, he hoped the
\nGeneral Session would run smoothly. \"Only then can we forget the
\npast and look to the future,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Amien appealed to all supporters of political parties to
\nexercise restraint. He pointed out the fact that mass
\nconcentrations of party supporters were found around Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"There will be thousands of people mobilized by each party
\nclose to the presidential election and this could cause bloody
\nconflicts on the streets,\" said Amien.<\/p>\n
\"When will the nation start to solve its problems using its
\nmind rather than its muscle?,\" asked Amien.<\/p>\n
Amien also deplored a certain party which threatened to wage a
\nrevolution if its candidate lost the race for presidency.<\/p>\n
\"It is a great danger, because everybody can make the same
\nthreat,\" he said. \"Our people have suffered for a long time. If
\neverybody is talking about revolution, then we all will suffer
\ngreat losses.\" (05)<\/p>",
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