Gus Dur refuses to step down<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman \"Gus Dur\" Wahid remained
\nunmoved despite loud protest on Monday by thousands of students
\nbesieging the presidential palace calling for his resignation.<\/p>\n
\"I will not step down because my duty (as president) is to
\nmaintain the territorial integrity of this country,\" Abdurrahman
\ntold reporters after attending a cabinet meeting at the Bina
\nGraha presidential office.<\/p>\n
The meeting was the first since Abdurrahman's return on March
\n7 from a two-week overseas trip to Middle East and North African
\ncountries.<\/p>\n
He reiterated his claim that \"Aceh, Irian Jaya, Maluku and
\nMadura will immediately declare independence\" if he resigns.<\/p>\n
The President then played down increasing calls for his
\nresignation saying that \"the students outside the palace were
\nonly representing a small group\".<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman said he had asked his deputy, Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri, to be \"proactive\" in carrying out a power-sharing
\nagreement made after the annual session of the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR) last year.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman, who was elected in October 1999 to serve until
\n2004, agreed in August last year to delegate some of his
\npresidential duties to Megawati after the MPR rebuked him for his
\npoor performance.<\/p>\n
\"Toward the end of the cabinet meeting, the President asked
\nthe Vice President to take a more proactive decision-making role
\nin the economic, social and security sectors,\" Cabinet Secretary
\nMarsilam Simanjuntak later told a media briefing following the
\ncabinet meeting.<\/p>\n
Marsilam said Megawati was asked to play a larger role both
\nwhen Abdurrahman was in the country or abroad.<\/p>\n
\"The President's request was aimed at enhancing unity and
\nsynergy in the national leadership in a bid to accelerate the
\neconomic recovery process and to reinforce the transition toward
\na more democratic country,\" he added.<\/p>\n
He said Abdurrahman asked Megawati to report to him on the
\nprocedures and policies which she initiated.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman has been under strong pressure to resign after the
\nHouse of Representatives (DPR) censured him on Feb. 1 over his
\nalleged involvement in two financial scandals.<\/p>\n
Critics have also accused him of failing to carry out reforms,
\nsolve violent separatist activities and communal conflicts, and
\nlift the country out of its economic woes. (byg)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gus-dur-refuses-to-step-down-1447893297",
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