Attempts emerge to unseat Mega<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Riding the momentum initiated by mounting antigovernment
\nprotests, several individuals representing different groups have
\nbecome united in their efforts to unseat President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri and Vice President Hamzah Haz.<\/p>\n
A detailed plan to unseat Megawati and Hamzah was discussed
\nduring a meeting hosted by Bung Karno Nationalist Party (PNBK)
\nchairman Eros Jarot in Jakarta on Friday.<\/p>\n
Various elements in society, such as student organizations,
\nlabor unions, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), legislators
\nand individuals, attended the meeting.<\/p>\n
Eros said on Saturday that the meeting had in principle agreed
\nto set up a national presidium to replace Megawati and Hamzah and
\nrun the country.<\/p>\n
"We have a common view that the Megawati-Hamzah administration
\ncan no longer be maintained. It is only a matter of how (to
\nunseat the government)," Eros told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
His words confirm an earlier statement by Coordinating
\nMinister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang
\nYudhoyono, who said that there were some movements trying to
\ntopple the government.<\/p>\n
Among those attending Friday's meeting at PNBK's office,
\naccording to a source, were Teten Masduki from the Indonesian
\nCorruption Watch (ICW), Andi William Sinaga from the Indonesian
\nProsperity Trade Union (SBSI) and representatives from a number
\nof organizations, such as Kosgoro, the Social Democratic Labor
\nParty, the Student Executive Body and the City Forum (Forkot).<\/p>\n
Several influential legislators were also present, including
\nMeilono Suwondo from Megawati's Indonesian Democratic Party of
\nStruggle (PDI Perjuangan), Alvin Lee from the National Mandate
\nParty (PAN) and Julius Usman from the Golkar Party.<\/p>\n
Eros, a former close aide of Megawati's and a former executive
\nof PDI Perjuangan, said that he and other people in the group
\nwere discussing ways to topple Megawati and then establish a
\npresidium.<\/p>\n
Eros, however, refused to disclose who would sit on the
\ncommittee.<\/p>\n
One source told the Post that People's Consultative Assembly
\n(MPR) Speaker Amien Rais and former president Abdurrahman Wahid
\nwere among those who had been invited to join the proposed
\npresidium.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman confirmed on Thursday that he was invited to sit
\non the committee. He refused to mention the persons or groups
\nthat had invited him.<\/p>\n
Initial speculation also hinted at Gen. (ret) Wiranto, former
\nIndonesian Military commander and chief security minister,
\nfollowing a number of meetings between Wiranto and Abdurrahman.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman admitted that he had met Wiranto and also Amien on
\nseparate occasions recently. But he denied that they had
\ndiscussed the issue of the proposed presidium.<\/p>\n
The movement to unseat Megawati and Hamzah comes at a time
\nwhen a series of mass antigovernment rallies have hit the country
\nfollowing the simultaneous utility price hikes earlier this
\nmonth.<\/p>\n
Eros, however, denied that his group was using the
\ndemonstrations to the movement's benefit.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, the chairman of the Indonesian Employers
\nAssociation (Apindo), Djimanto, noticed that a certain group had
\ntried to use the movement against the price hikes for its own
\npolitical interest.<\/p>\n
Although Djimanto said that his organization was still free
\nfrom political influence, representatives of Apindo and labor
\norganizations would meet with Amien on Monday.<\/p>\n
Eros said that he and his friends realized that taking drastic
\nmeasures, such as unseating Megawati and Hamzah, could have
\nrepercussions that further burden people.<\/p>\n
"We will still go ahead, based on our calculations. The cost
\nof changing the leadership is equal to the cost of doing nothing,
\nand allowing corruption, collusion and nepotism to continue.<\/p>\n
"It's like dealing with cancer. It's better that it is cut
\nout, otherwise the disease will spread," he said.<\/p>\n
He noted that disappointment and frustration with the current
\ngovernment not only affected students and activists but had
\nspread into all levels of society.<\/p>\n
"If we keep our ears open, you will hear people in coffee
\nshops, markets and offices talking about the government's
\nfailures and they are saying that their lives have become worse,"
\nhe added.<\/p>",
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