Gus Dur brushes off special session by the Assembly<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid persisted on Friday
\nwith his belligerent stance against the upcoming special session
\nof the People's Consultative Assembly claiming that he was duty
\nbound to defend his presidency.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman again sounded out a strong warning against the
\nAssembly's attempts to seek his accountability, contending that
\nhe was only obligated to make such a report at the end of his
\nfive-year term in 2004.<\/p>\n
Speaking in a public dialog after Friday prayers at a mosque
\nin Cijantung, East Jakarta, Abdurrahman likened any attempt to
\noust him as an effort to threaten the country's virtual
\nexistence.<\/p>\n
\"The answer is very clear, if there is any insurrection
\nagainst the presidential institution, it is my obligation to
\ndefend it,\" the President charged.<\/p>\n
But Abdurrahman said he would be willing to personally attend
\nthe special session which was due to begin on Aug. 1.<\/p>\n
Seemingly unperturbed by the political moves of the House of
\nRepresentatives edging him closer to possible impeachment,
\nAbdurrahman expressed confidence that the brouhaha would all come
\nto naught.<\/p>\n
\"I am confident it will not happen (the Assembly's demand for
\nhis accountability). Therefore I have no objection to the
\nAssembly's special session,\" he remarked.<\/p>\n
Later in the afternoon at Merdeka Palace in a meeting with old
\nchums which included Frans Magnis Suseno and talk show host Jaya
\nSuprana, Abdurrahman complained that his public appearances were
\nno longer entertaining since his close aides had prohibited him
\nfrom cracking jokes.<\/p>\n
\"I'm not allowed to tell jokes. It has affected me,\" the
\nPresident said, as quoted by Jaya.<\/p>\n
But according to Jaya, during the meeting the President's
\nfriends urged him to pick up the habit again as they believed
\nhumor was one of the President's best sources of inspiration.<\/p>\n
\"Starting tomorrow I will start telling jokes again,\" the
\nPresident reportedly said.<\/p>\n
Megawati<\/p>\n
Separately the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
\nPerjuangan) faction chairman at the Assembly, Sophan Sophiaan,
\nsaid that party boss Megawati Soekarnoputri did not agree with
\nthe calls to accelerate the Assembly special session.<\/p>\n
Sophan, whose intention to resign as the faction leader had
\nbeen rejected by Megawati, denied speculation that she wanted to
\nexpedite the session due to her eagerness to remove the
\nPresident.<\/p>\n
He underlined that Megawati, always persists in setting party
\npolicy in accordance with the Constitution.<\/p>\n
\"The idea (to expedite the special session) has nothing to do
\nwith Ibu Megawati. It isn't true that she is impatient to take
\nover the country's leadership,\" Sophan remarked.<\/p>\n
The idea of forwarding the session, is simply aimed at
\nanticipating radical moves which may be taken by the President,
\nSophan noted.<\/p>\n
Sophan, who initially made a name for himself as an actor and
\nfilm director, pointed out that constitutionally it would be
\ndifficult to expedite the special session unless there were fatal
\ninfractions with widespread debilitating repercussions committed
\nby the President.<\/p>\n
On Thursday night five major parties -- PDI Perjuangan,
\nGolkar, the United Development Party, the National Mandate Party
\nand the Crescent Star Party -- met to look at possible legal
\nloopholes which would allow a hastened special session.<\/p>\n
National Awakening Party (PKB) Chairman Matori Abdul Djalil
\nhowever warned of the consequences of any attempt to rush the
\nspecial session.<\/p>\n
\"We urge all parties to stick to the Constitution and
\ndemonstrate prudence in dealing with the current political
\nsituation,\" said Matori. (dja\/prb)<\/p>",
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