Cabinet reshuffle urged to settle political rift<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Defense Mahfud MD suggested that a
\nreshuffle of the current Cabinet be undertaken to accommodate
\nmajor political parties, with the aim of settling the political
\nrift between anti-government and pro-government movements.<\/p>\n
\"Both camps are strong and therefore political instability
\nwill not end in the short term,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The minister claimed that he had discussed such possible
\narrangements with executives of some political parties, including
\nGolkar Party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
\nPerjuangan) and the National Awakening Party (PKB).<\/p>\n
\"I suggest that the Reform faction and the United Development
\nParty (PPP) become the opposition but if they want to join the
\nCabinet it's okay too,\" he said on Saturday.<\/p>\n
\"I see no way out of this battle unless the political elite
\nrealizes that unseating Gus Dur is not a solution,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"Gus Dur supporters should also realize that they just can't
\nneglect the opponents of Gus Dur.\"<\/p>\n
Sentiments reflecting both support and opposition to
\nAbdurrahman have crystallized and often sparked into open mob
\nviolence in recent weeks.<\/p>\n
A heated political climate has been stimulated, in particular
\nby the House of Representatives censure of the President and the
\nissuance of a memorandum for his alleged involvement in two
\nfinancial scandals.<\/p>\n
Mahfud asserted that he would be one of the first ministers to
\noffer his resignation if his current post was needed to be filled
\nby someone else under such a political compromise.<\/p>\n
\"Other ministers should be prepared, too,\" he remarked.<\/p>\n
Mahfud further claimed that discussions on the idea of a
\nCabinet reshuffle is also being discussed by the next level below
\nthe President, Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri, House
\nSpeaker Akbar Tandjung, and People's Consultative Assembly
\nSpeaker Amien Rais.<\/p>\n
\"We will assure the President that this is the political
\nreality, and changing the Cabinet into an accommodative one is a
\nmust...Although he has repeatedly stated that ministerial posts
\nshould not be treated as 'market merchandise' which can be
\ntraded,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Separately when asked to comment on the likelihood of a
\npossible reshuffle, legislators from PDI Perjuangan and the
\nNational Awakening Party (PKB) remained aloof, instead stressing
\nthe need to implement a decree on the delegation of power to the
\nVice President.<\/p>\n
Speaking to The Jakarta Post on Sunday, deputy secretary
\ngeneral of PDI Perjuangan Pramono Anung said what's needed most
\nis a commitment to implement Presidential Decree No. 121\/2000, on
\nthe delegation of daily government duties to the Vice President.<\/p>\n
\"The cabinet reshuffle may not be a sufficient move right now.
\nI think the most important thing is to effectively implement the
\npresidential decree and the People's Consultative Assembly Decree
\nNo. 8\/2000,\" Pramono said, while stressing that his remarks were
\na personal statement and did not represent the official party
\nline.<\/p>\n
He underlined that the party has yet to take a stand on what
\nsteps should be taken to resolve the current political crisis.<\/p>\n
Separately, Ali Masykur Moesa from PKB said that a Cabinet
\nshake-up would be sufficient as long as it could guarantee some
\nform of commitment from PDI Perjuangan, the Indonesian Military
\nand the Golkar Party.<\/p>\n
\"If the Cabinet shake-up is considered as a strategic alliance
\nfor the future then it might work,\" he remarked.<\/p>\n
Ali expressed confidence that the President may be willing to
\nopen up discussion on power sharing between the parties if such a
\nguarantee could be provided.(44\/edt\/dja)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/cabinet-reshuffle-urged-to-settle-political-rift-1447893297",
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