Amien eyes top post in 2004 elections<\/p>\n
SINGAPORE (Agencies): People's Consultative Assembly Speaker
\nAmien Rais addressing the News World Asia broadcast industry
\nconference here on Thursday said he is interested in seeking the
\nIndonesian presidency in 2004.<\/p>\n
Amien charged that the country's current leader, President
\nAbdurrahman Wahid, has failed \"to serve the people and carry out
\nthe mandate given to him\".<\/p>\n
\"I do not plot and connive to overthrow the legitimate
\ngovernment,\" Amien said, \"but would consider running in the next
\nelection in three years.\"<\/p>\n
Amien said that Abdurrahman is now a lame duck president
\nfollowing the House of Representative's second memorandum of
\ncensure against him on April 30.<\/p>\n
In a separate interview with the Business Times, Amien further
\nclaimed that a special session of the Assembly to impeach
\nAbdurrahman was inevitable and only \"a miracle\" would save him.<\/p>\n
Sketching out a post-impeachment scenario, Amien said Vice
\nPresident Megawati Soekarnoputri would take over as president,
\nbut the vice presidency may be left vacant until 2004.<\/p>\n
Amien further claimed that several Asian and Western leaders
\nhave signaled, without wanting to be seen as interfering, that it
\nwould be wise for Abdurrahman to step down.<\/p>\n
\"If there is a miracle and his accountability speech is
\naccepted, the president will survive. But that possibility is
\nvery slim,\" Amien stated during his three-day visit to Singapore
\nwhich started on Wednesday.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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