Gus Dur rectifies his statements<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Returning President Abdurrahman Wahid sought to
\nrectify reports of the impending decree on a state of emergency
\nand a change of military chiefs of staff, which gave the nation a
\ncase of the jitters while he was abroad.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman, who arrived at Halim Perdanakusumah Airport from
\nManila 15 minutes earlier than scheduled, was greeted by Vice
\nPresident Megawati Soekarnoputri, several Cabinet ministers,
\nIndonesian Military (TNI) Chief Adm. Widodo AS and National
\nPolice Deputy Chief Comr. Gen. Chaeruddin Ismail.<\/p>\n
In a media conference at the airport, Abdurrahman said
\ncomments he had made overseas to declare a state of emergency
\nwould only be used as a last resort if no compromise or honorable
\nsolution to the President and House of Representatives was
\nreached.<\/p>\n
\"It's a last resort that will be taken if we cannot reach a
\nwin win solution,\" Abdurrahman said, speaking in English.<\/p>\n
\"I believe that we can achieve that conclusion
\nsatisfactorily,\" he added, referring to the upcoming special
\nsession of the People's Consultative Assembly, which could turn
\nout to be the his impeachment hearing.<\/p>\n
The President further expressed his guarded optimism that a
\nsolution to the prolonged standoff between him and the House
\ncould be reached.<\/p>\n
\"That's why I went out of the country, otherwise I wouldn't
\nhave gone,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He further spoke about the reported statement from Megawati,
\nwho is also the chairwoman of the country's largest political
\nparty, that she had closed the door for a compromise with the
\nPresident in the coming special session.<\/p>\n
\"She's never stated it directly, it (the statement) was from
\nsomebody else, she did not mention it herself. I haven't talked
\nto her yet,\" said Abdurrahman upon his arrival.<\/p>\n
Military<\/p>\n
The President further brushed aside rumors of his intention to
\nreplace the Army, Navy and Air Force chiefs of staff before Aug.
\n1, the date for the Assembly special session to commence, saying
\nthat it was merely a media twist.<\/p>\n
Members of his own National Awakening Party (PKB) said on
\nThursday that the President was preparing to change the three
\nchiefs of staff, in an apparent bid to ease his plan to declare a
\nstate of emergency.<\/p>\n
Earlier in Manila, he mentioned that there was no need to
\nreplace military officials at the moment.<\/p>\n
\"If things go the way they are now, there is no need for that
\nkind of replacement...no dismissals in the military except in the
\ncase of an emergency. An emergency is the last thing to come and
\nwill be decided collectively, not just by myself,\" he said, as
\nquoted by AFP.<\/p>\n
Expressing gratitude to the Indonesian Air Force was the first
\nstatement the President made upon his arrival. He also expressed
\nhis relief to reach home safely, calling the continuing mishaps
\nof his trip \"not as terrible as was reported\".<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman's arrival in Manila was delayed for an hour
\nfollowing trouble with the cockpit window of the Garuda Boeing
\n747 in which he was traveling. An engine problem had delayed his
\nscheduled landing in Canberra for eight hours on Monday.<\/p>\n
During Friday's media conference, Abdurrahman said that his
\ntrip resulted in widespread support for his West Pacific Forum
\ninitiative, which he raised last year, especially from Australia
\nand New Zealand.<\/p>\n
The President also said that the government would further
\ninvite neighboring country Brunei Darussalam to discuss the forum
\ninitiative and whether it would like to become a member.<\/p>\n
\"The Australians urged for further discussion immediately
\namong foreign ministers as soon as possible,\" Abdurrahman said.<\/p>\n
On his short \"lunch break\" with President of the Philippines
\nGloria-Macapagal Arroyo in Manila, Abdurrahman said she had
\nexpressed appreciation of Indonesia's support in peace talks with
\na Muslim separatist group in the Philippines.<\/p>\n
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) signed a truce with
\nManila in talks held in Libya last week. Indonesia took part as a
\nthird party in the talks.<\/p>\n
He said that President Arroyo had also expressed support for
\nthe West Pacific Forum idea and the Philippines is willing to
\njoin the next discussion on the prospective forum.<\/p>\n
\"Actually the main purpose of the visit was to congratulate
\nPresident Arroyo for her new presidency and she thanked us for
\nour role in the peace talks with the MILF,\" the President said.
\n(dja)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gus-dur-rectifies-his-statements-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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