Emergency threat still possible: Akbar Tanjung<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung
\nwarned on Tuesday that President Abdurrahman Wahid may still
\ncarry out his threat of imposing a state of emergency, despite
\nthe plan even attracting strong opposition from his own Cabinet.<\/p>\n
Akbar, who is also chairman of the Golkar Party, hinted that
\nthe House would respond quickly if the President declared the
\nemergency status, asking the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR)
\nto immediately convene a special session.<\/p>\n
\"It is still possible for Gus Dur to impose the measure. We
\nhave to anticipate all possibilities,\" Akbar remarked.<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security
\nAffairs Lt. Gen. (ret) Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has disclosed
\nthat the President was, up until Monday, still determined to
\nimpose a civil emergency status and issue an edict dissolving the
\nHouse if censure proceedings calling for an Assembly special
\nsession proceeded.<\/p>\n
The House will convene a plenary session on Wednesday to
\ndetermine whether a special session will be requested.<\/p>\n
\"If the President ultimately decides to issue the emergency
\nedict, as well as dissolving state agencies like the House, we
\nwill invite faction leaders in the House to expedite the special
\nsession procedure,\" Akbar said.<\/p>\n
During such a crisis, the Assembly does not need to wait for
\ntwo months before convening a special session to ask for the
\nPresident's accountability report, as ruled by Assembly Decree
\nNo. 2\/2000, Akbar insisted.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the All Indonesian Students Body (BEM-SI) urged
\nAbdurrahman to relinquish his power in a constitutional way.<\/p>\n
In a statement read out by the group's spokesman Agus
\nTimorwoko, the students not only condemned the President's
\nemergency plan but also the executive order issued to Susilo on
\nMonday, authorizing him to take measures to restore the country's
\nsecurity and order.<\/p>\n
\"The executive order is one of his scorched-earth maneuvers
\nwhile counting his last days in office, providing a way for the
\nmilitary and police to reenter the political arena,\" Agus said.<\/p>\n
The students demanded Gus Dur resign because it was less risky
\ncompared to facing a special session of the Assembly.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, discontent over the executive order grew within the
\nPresident's team, with Harun Al-Rasyid announcing his resignation
\nas a presidential legal advisor in protest.<\/p>\n
\"I conclude that the President no longer needs a legal
\nadviser,\" Harun contended, adding that he was not consulted on
\nthe decision.<\/p>\n
Despite Harun's remarks, presidential spokesman Yahya C.
\nStaquf insisted that Harun was still a member of the President's
\nlegal advisory team.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, in Yogyakarta, political observer Pratikno and
\nsociologist Susetiawan, both from Gadjah Mada University, warned
\nof the implications of the executive order.<\/p>\n
Pratikno feared that it was a means for Abdurrahman to gain
\npolitical leverage by seeking \"immunity\" from the attacks of
\npolitical foes by shielding under the military.<\/p>\n
Pratikno added, however, that it was unclear whether or not
\nthe military would welcome the executive order.<\/p>\n
\"This depends on Susilo's influence in the military,\" Pratikno
\nnoted.<\/p>\n
Susetiawan urged both Abdurrahman and Megawati Soekarnoputri
\nto put national unity and the democratization process above
\npolitical interests.<\/p>\n
\"If the two figures show up as good friends their supporters
\nwill follow, because they are still parental figures,\" Susetiawan
\nsaid. (dja\/bby\/44)<\/p>",
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