Gus Dur ignores Amien's impeachment fulmination<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman \"Gus Dur\" Wahid lightly
\ndismissed on Friday a suggestion by People's Consultative
\nAssembly (MPR) Speaker Amien Rais that he could face an
\nimpeachment process in three months' time.<\/p>\n
The President, however, restrained himself from attacking
\nAmien, saying he would abide by the wishes of the MPR as the
\nhighest state institution.<\/p>\n
The President is scheduled to appear before the MPR General
\nSession on Aug. 7 to present a progress report of his first year
\nin office.<\/p>\n
The event has been billed as a political showdown between the
\nPresident and the increasingly vocal and critical Assembly
\nspokesman.<\/p>\n
Amien and Gus Dur have traded harsh words in the run-up to the
\nsession.<\/p>\n
Speaking with those present after Friday prayers at the Yassin
\nMosque in Cibubur, East Jakarta, Gus Dur said he was baffled by
\nAmien's contradictory statements.<\/p>\n
\"A few days ago the MPR chairman guaranteed that there was a
\n99 percent chance that nothing special would happen (at the
\ngeneral session). But yesterday he talked about a special
\nsession,\" he said in response to Amien's latest threat.<\/p>\n
\"I leave it up to the MPR to do whatever it wants,\" he said,
\nadding that he found it difficult to respond if the MPR speaker
\nmade a different statement everyday.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, Amien said the MPR could remove President
\nAbdurrahman from office if he failed to improve the country's
\nsituation within three months.<\/p>\n
\"If he fails to improve himself and the country's economy, the
\nmandate given to him by the people will be removed,\" Amien said
\nduring a meeting with Muslim students who were calling for his
\nimpeachment.<\/p>\n
Only the MPR has the power to remove the President midterm --
\nby calling for an emergency meeting of the Assembly.<\/p>\n
Amien has resisted demands to turn the annual MPR session next
\nmonth into an emergency meeting, saying there was not enough
\ngrounds to do such a thing.<\/p>\n
Gus Dur said on Friday he would continue to respect the MPR
\nand would continue to do his best to carry out the mandate given
\nto him.<\/p>\n
Separately, political observer Ichlasul Amal of Gadjah Mada
\nUniversity dismissed Amien's three-month ultimatum as irrational.<\/p>\n
Ichlasul, who is the university's rector, said no president
\ncould resolve the chaos in Indonesia within the time limit set by
\nAmien because the problems were just so complex.<\/p>\n
\"Three months is too short, it does not make sense at all,\"
\nIchlasul said. (prb\/44)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gus-dur-ignores-amiens-impeachment-fulmination-1447893297",
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