Assembly to reprimand, impeach Gus Dur<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) will
\nreprimand President Abdurrahman Wahid for his shortcomings but it
\nhas no plan to initiate an impeachment process at this stage,
\nHouse Speaker Akbar Tandjung said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Akbar told reporters that he did not see the urgency of
\nconvening an emergency MPR session at this time, and that the
\nAssembly would meet in August as scheduled.<\/p>\n
The only time the House leadership could call for an emergency
\nsession would be if the President was deemed to have breached a
\nlaw or departed from the State Policy Guidelines, he said.<\/p>\n
The August MPR session, however, would look at the performance
\nof President Abdurrahman's administration, he said.<\/p>\n
\"The Assembly could issue a stern warning if the President was
\ndeemed to have failed to make any progress. It could also set out
\nmeasures that he would have to follow,\" Akbar said.<\/p>\n
MPR chairman Amien Rais separately ruled out an impeachment
\nbut promised that he and his National Mandate Party (PAN) would
\nbe harsh in evaluating the administration's performance.<\/p>\n
Amien said since he was the one who pushed Abdurrahman's
\ncandidacy in the presidential election in October, he felt it was
\nhis duty to continue reminding the President.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman has come under a lot of criticism in recent weeks
\nfrom various parties. Some have criticized the slow progress of
\nthe economy and others for his plan to end a 35-year-old ban on
\ncommunism.<\/p>\n
Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama'ah, a Muslim organization which is
\npreparing to send volunteers to strife-torn Maluku, urged Akbar
\non Monday to consider impeaching the President.<\/p>\n
The MPR is scheduled to convene in August, primarily to
\ndiscuss amending the Constitution.<\/p>\n
Akbar disclosed that he met with Abdurrahman last week,
\nshortly before the latter left on an overseas trip, to discuss
\nvarious issues, including the slow pace of Indonesia's economic
\nrecovery.<\/p>\n
\"The government has made significant progress in restoring
\npolitical instability but it has done little in repairing the
\neconomy,\" Akbar said. \"Without an economic recovery, political
\nstability won't last long.\"<\/p>\n
Akbar also praised the President for making progress in the
\nnational reconciliation process, the enforcement of the law and
\nvarious investigations into alleged corruption, including one
\ninvolving former president Soeharto.<\/p>\n
He said he had also implored Abdurrahman to refrain from
\nmaking any more controversial statements and to back down on his
\ncall to end the ban on communism.<\/p>\n
\"It benefits no one if the President keeps initiating
\ncontroversies. It will only sow political instability and affect
\npeople's confidence in the government,\" he said.<\/p>\n
On lifting the communism ban, Akbar said the proposal did not
\nfind support among the majority of Muslims in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
But if Abdurrahman insisted on his plan, he should secure the
\nsupport of a faction in the House which would then bring it up
\nfor discussion, Akbar said. (rms)<\/p>",
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