Assembly rejects Habibie's speech<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The People's Consultative Assembly (MPR)
\nrejected on Wednesday an accountability report by outgoing
\nPresident B.J. Habibie of his controversial 512-day tenure.<\/p>\n
The vote has virtually killed, or at the very least seriously
\nundermined, his chances in the presidential election, which will
\nbe held late Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The MPR voted 355-322 to reject the report, with nine
\nabstaining. Four ballots were declared void.<\/p>\n
MPR Speaker Amien Rais read the result at 12:30 a.m.<\/p>\n
\"The President's accountability speech is rejected by the
\nAssembly,\" Amien pronounced before the Assembly members.<\/p>\n
Habibie attended the session earlier, but left the venue when
\nvoting began. Some of his supporters, particularly those in
\nGolkar and the United Development Party (PPP), slumped in their
\nseats when they heard the announcement.<\/p>\n
A.A. Baramuli, Habibie's close confidant and the man allegedly
\nbehind the money politics scandal, covered his face with a copy
\nof Tempo magazine.<\/p>\n
There was joy among members of the Indonesian Democratic Party
\nof Struggle (PDI Perjuangan). Some prayed and broke into tears,
\nothers congratulated one another. Many journalists and observers
\nin the public gallery joined them in singing the national anthem
\nIndonesia Raya.<\/p>\n
Golkar Chairman Akbar Tandjung was mobbed as he tried to leave
\nthe main hall but he was shielded by bodyguards and was rushed
\naway. It was not immediately clear who were his assailants.<\/p>\n
Golkar leaders were seen gathering at Akbar's office on the
\nthird floor of the MPR building.<\/p>\n
The MPR was forced to take a vote on the issue after failing
\nto reach a consensus.<\/p>\n
Four factions rejected the report -- PDI Perjuangan, the
\nNational Awakening Party, the Indonesian Nationhood coalition
\nfaction and the Love the Nation Democratic Party. Golkar was the
\nlone faction to accept the report, while six could not come to a
\nconclusion.<\/p>\n
Habibie's accountability report, read on the opening day of
\nthe MPR General Session on Thursday, highlighted the progress
\nIndonesia made under his leadership.<\/p>\n
He assumed power in May 1998 in the wake of the resignation of
\nstrongman Soeharto and at a time when Indonesia was experiencing
\nits worst economic crisis.<\/p>\n
He listed his achievements as stronger macroeconomic
\nindicators, the release of political prisoners, and greater
\nfreedom of expression for the people and the media.<\/p>\n
Yet his report concealed many of the failings that dogged his
\nadministration, leaving his political opponents to tear the
\nreport apart. They zoomed in on the Bank Bali scandal, the
\nadministration's failure to prosecute Soeharto on corruption
\ncharges, the East Timor debacle and violent unrest in Aceh and
\nMaluku, among others things.<\/p>\n
Habibie was given the chance to respond to his critics on
\nSunday, and he used that opportunity to apologize for his
\nshortcomings.<\/p>\n
But his last ditch effort failed to appease the majority of
\nthe MPR members.<\/p>\n
Before Tuesday's vote, Habibie remained the most serious
\nchallenger to PDI Perjuangan's Megawati Soekarnoputri in the
\npresidential election.<\/p>\n
Habibie was nominated by Golkar as its presidential candidate,
\nbut with the rejection of his speech, the ruling party is
\nexpected to begin looking for an alternative candidate, or to
\nopen negotiations with Megawati for the possibility of a power-
\nsharing arrangement.<\/p>\n
The Assembly began the drawn-out process of voting just before
\n10 p.m. Members were asked to cast their ballots one at a time in
\nprepared booths set up inside the meeting room.<\/p>\n
At 11:30 p.m., the organizers announced that 690 members had
\ncast their votes.<\/p>\n
Counting began immediately thereafter. After a quiet start,
\npeople in the hall cheered or jeered as each ballot of menolak
\n(reject) and menerima (accept) was read out.<\/p>\n
The first abstaining vote was greeted with applause.<\/p>\n
Ballots that read setuju (agree) or tidak setuju (do not
\nagree) were cast aside and declared void.<\/p>\n
The outcome raised doubts of whether Habibie should continue
\nto contest the presidential election.<\/p>\n
Siswono Hudohusodo, a member of the interest group faction,
\nsaid Habibie should withdraw his nomination because the rejection
\nof his speech amounted to a rejection of him as president.<\/p>\n
\"Golkar should look for an alternative candidate, or support a
\ncandidate nominated by other factions,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Sukowaluyo of PDI Perjuangan said the vote mirrored the
\npeople's wishes.<\/p>\n
He proposed that Golkar open talks with PDI Perjuangan to
\nendorse Megawati's candidacy in exchange for the vice
\npresidential post for its chairman, Akbar Tandjung.<\/p>\n
\"This duet would be far more acceptable to the people,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Tosari Wijaya, deputy chairman of the PPP which had also
\nplanned to nominate Habibie, said the party would convene
\nimmediately to decide upon another candidate.<\/p>\n
Alwi Shihab of PKB declined to state PKB position regarding
\nWednesday's election, prefering to wait for further development.<\/p>\n
\"I hear Habibie will withdraw from the nomination,\" Alwi said.<\/p>\n
Nominations are scheduled to begin at 5 a.m. (rms\/05\/byg)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/assembly-rejects-habibies-speech-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }