Gus Dur vows to defend Constitution<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Politically cornered, President Abdurrahman
\nWahid returned to a familiar theme on Friday, vowing to take
\ntough measures to defend the Constitution against violations by
\nlawmakers.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman said any violation of the 1945 Constitution, which
\ngrants sweeping power to the head of state, must be dealt with
\n\"without hesitation\".<\/p>\n
\"It is pivotal that we not tolerate any violation of the
\nConstitution. Therefore, we have to defend our Constitution at
\nall costs,\" the President said after Friday prayers at the
\npresidential palace's Baiturrahim Mosque.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman could face impeachment proceedings within months,
\nfollowing the issuance of two memorandums of censure by the House
\nof Representatives for corruption and incompetence.<\/p>\n
In a thinly veiled threat, Abdurrahman said the 500-member
\nlegislature had gone beyond its authority when a House
\ninvestigative committee concluded in February that he might have
\nplayed a role in two financial scandals.<\/p>\n
\"The Constitution clearly stipulates that investigations are
\nthe authority of the judicial arm of the government,\" Abdurrahman
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The President then went on to deny that he ever had the
\nintention of issuing a presidential decree dissolving the House.<\/p>\n
\"I have never said that there was any intention to issue such
\na decree, so it is only being made up by the media,\" the
\nPresident said.<\/p>\n
Top military brass have said that during a breakfast meeting
\nat the Merdeka Palace on May 5, Abdurrahman expressed his
\nintention to issue a presidential decree dissolving the House.<\/p>\n
Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Indroko Sastrowiryono was the latest
\nmilitary leader to confirm the events of this meeting. He said on
\nThursday that he advised the President to refrain from issuing
\nthe decree, as it \"will only bring adversity to the people\".<\/p>\n
Army Chief of Staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto said earlier that
\ndissolving the House would only worsen the already poor
\nrelationship between the President and the legislature.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman has repeatedly accused the House of violating the
\nConstitution by conducting an investigation of the two financial
\nscandals.<\/p>\n
The President has also maintained that under the current
\npolitical system, he can only be held accountable by the People's
\nConsultative Assembly at the end of his term in 2004.<\/p>\n
He told a gathering of provincial governors earlier on Friday
\nthat anyone who wanted to change the government to a
\nparliamentarian system should wait until the Assembly convenes
\nnext year and amend the Constitution.<\/p>\n
Later in the day, constitutional law expert Harun Al Rasyid
\ncalled on the Supreme Court to issue \"a legal opinion\" on whether
\nthe memorandums of censure and possible impeachment of the
\nPresident were legally valid.<\/p>\n
However, new Supreme Court Chief Justice Bagir Manan appears
\nreluctant to play a role in the political battle, implying
\nearlier in the day that the Supreme Court would not venture into
\nthe political realm.<\/p>\n
\"The Supreme Court is not a legal adviser to anyone and we
\nwill not give any opinions if it is not a legal battle,\" Bagir
\nsaid following his swearing-in ceremony at the State Palace on
\nFriday morning. (byg)<\/p>",
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