Efforts to expedite special session fail<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Antigovernment demonstrators who had been
\ncamping out at the House of Representatives complex dispersed on
\nWednesday after minority factions in the People's Consultative
\nAssembly scuttled attempts to expedite a special session which
\ncould impeach President Abdurrahman Wahid.<\/p>\n
Assembly Speaker Amien Rais, who presided over a meeting of
\nthe factions on Wednesday, confirmed the divisions among them
\nover the acceleration of the special session.<\/p>\n
But he quickly stressed that the factions had agreed that a
\nspecial session would be necessary in the coming months.<\/p>\n
\"Due to the absence of constitutional grounds, the House
\nshould continue with the process leading to a second memorandum,\"
\nAmien said.<\/p>\n
Sutjipto, from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
\n(PDI Perjuangan) faction, said his faction would support a
\nspecial session only if it were convened in accordance with the
\nConstitution.<\/p>\n
The House recently issued a memorandum censuring the President
\nfor his alleged involvement in two financial scandals. The
\nPresident has three months in which to respond.<\/p>\n
A second memorandum of censure can be issued after that, and a
\nmonth later the House can propose that the Assembly convene a
\nspecial session.<\/p>\n
But factions such as those representing the Reform Party,
\nUnited Development Party (PPP) and Crescent Star Party (PBB),
\nhave been calling for the immediate special session.<\/p>\n
\"The House could call for an expedited special session due to
\nthe chaotic situation as provided for under Article 50 of the
\nHouse's internal rules,\" Muchtar Luthfi, chairman of the Reform
\nfaction, said.<\/p>\n
Other factions, however, seemed more cautious.<\/p>\n
Maj. Gen. Budi Harsono representing the Indonesian
\nMilitary\/National Police faction said that they did not support
\nbringing forward a special session.<\/p>\n
\"Our faction's main concern is to salvage the nation and the
\nstate, instead of short-term political objectives,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Similarly Harun Khamil, Assembly deputy speaker representing
\nthe Societal Groups faction, also stressed that the House should
\nfirst follow through with the censure process.<\/p>\n
Fahmi Idris, chairman of the Golkar Party faction, said: \"It's
\nbetter to wait until a second memorandum of censure has been
\nissued by the House in May.\"<\/p>\n
Rallies<\/p>\n
As news spread that no consensus could be reached, the
\nstudents who had been camping in the grounds of the House for two
\nnights began to disperse.<\/p>\n
But they remained defiant and pledged to continue their
\nstruggle.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday it was pro-Abdurrahman supporters who grabbed the
\nlimelight as hundreds of them gathered in front of the state
\npalace in support of the President.<\/p>\n
Many claimed to have traveled from outside Jakarta, from
\nplaces such as Pasuruan and Malang in East Java, Pekalongan and
\nCilacap in Central Java and Cirebon and Purwakarta in West Java.<\/p>\n
Many were armed with bamboo canes in anticipation of clashes
\nwith opposing demonstrators.<\/p>\n
Later in the afternoon, the police bomb squad was called after
\na suspicious package was found near the palace.<\/p>\n
\"This package really spooked the demonstrators. We're still
\ninvestigating the matter,\" Gambir Police chief Comr. Nurhadi
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The police refused to say if the package contained explosives.<\/p>\n
City police chief Insp. Gen. Mulyono Sulaiman said that no
\nmore than 4,000 police officers would be deployed in Greater
\nJakarta on Thursday to anticipate further rallies.<\/p>\n
\"We will not increase this normal number unless there's an
\nabsolute necessity,\" Mulyono told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
\"There are rumors that there will be mass demonstrations by
\nCity Forum (Forkot) and their friends, but there's been no
\nconfirmation as yet,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, scuffles broke out between marchers from the
\nStudent Executive Boards (BEMs) and students from Bung Karno
\nUniversity near the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation's offices in
\nCentral Jakarta.<\/p>\n
About 17 students were detained.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, in Makassar, South Sulawesi, students took to the
\nstreets to demand Abdurrahman's resignation. The protest resulted
\nin traffic congestion for two hours around midday.<\/p>\n
The protesters included students from the Indonesian Muslim
\nStudents Front Movement (KAMMI), Reform Salvation Council, the
\nStudent Executive Boards, and different universities.<\/p>\n
In Semarang, Central Java, 200 students from the local Student
\nExecutive Boards swarmed the grounds of the provincial
\nlegislative council building urging the members of the political
\nelite to unite and focus on the welfare of the people instead of
\nmerely demanding Abdurrahman's resignation.<\/p>\n
Separately, another 50 students from the National Students'
\nLeague for Democracy gathered to condemn violence committed by
\ndemonstrators.<\/p>\n
\"We urge all people to open anti-New Order command posts to
\npave the way towards real democracy,\" Simon, the coordinator
\nsaid, adding that the group wanted the Golkar party to be
\ndisbanded. (01\/27\/rms\/ylt\/har\/sur)<\/p>",
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