Gus Dur's response rocks the House<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman \"Gus Dur\" Wahid angered
\nmany House members on Thursday when he failed to answer their
\nquestions about his decision to fire two Cabinet ministers in
\nApril.<\/p>\n
A total of 23 House members used the meeting with the
\nPresident to air their opinions about his response. Support for
\nthe President not surprisingly came from members of the National
\nAwakening Party (PKB) which Abdurrahman helped found last year.
\nThe 34 members of the Indonesian Military\/Police faction did not
\nuse their right to respond.<\/p>\n
The following are excerpts from some of the responses.<\/p>\n
Ade Komaruddin, Golkar Party of Reform faction and initiator
\nof the interpellation right: The President's response on the
\ninterpellation right is material for academic discourse. It has
\nno legal basis. This is not the place for this respected forum to
\ndiscuss the subject.<\/p>\n
You have to respect the rights of the House, lest you become a
\ntyrant. You have taken the oath of the presidential office to
\nuphold the 1945 Constitution and to uphold the laws. Yet, you
\nhave avoided answering questions from the House.<\/p>\n
We cannot accept your answer. We will consider using our other
\nrights. You are wrong to accuse the House of using the
\ninterpellation right to unseat the government.<\/p>\n
Is it wrong for the House to be critical? How else do we
\nexercise our function to control the government then?<\/p>\n
Mr. President, I am reminded of the phrase that \"power tends
\nto corrupt and that absolute power corrupts absolutely\". If the
\npresident is given absolute power, I'm afraid it will be abused.<\/p>\n
Hamdan Zoelva, Crescent Star faction (PBB):<\/p>\n
Law No. 4\/1999, on which the interpellation motion was based,
\nis an implementation of the 1945 Constitution. Now, we are
\nasking, how committed is the President to implementing the laws
\nand the Constitution?<\/p>\n
This is about public accountability. The public has the right
\nto know about the decisions behind the government policies.<\/p>\n
Your refusal to answer the questions is enough of an
\nindication of your attitude toward the 1945 Constitution. We will
\nform our own attitude in due course.<\/p>\n
Didi Supriyanto, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
\nfaction:<\/p>\n
The 1945 Constitution is short and simple. You should not only
\nread the text, but also the spirit. The interpellation right is
\nrecognized by the Constitution. The President did not quibble
\nabout it when he was summoned the first time (in November).<\/p>\n
If you neglect the 1945 Constitution, you are in violation of
\nyour oath of office to uphold the Constitution and all laws.<\/p>\n
Sofwan Chudorie, the National Awakening Party faction (F-PKB):<\/p>\n
The real problem is the substance of the interpellation
\nmotion. It was based on information that came out of a closed-
\ndoor meeting which was leaked to the media. If the President did
\nnot explain the matters in public, it was to protect the names of
\ncertain people. It was logical to discuss them during a closed-
\ndoor meeting. There may have been legal consequences if the
\nPresident answered questions about classified material.<\/p>\n
There are no indications that the President has not fulfilled
\nhis obligations.<\/p>\n
Ali Yahya, Golkar Party of Reform faction:<\/p>\n
When the President formed the Cabinet, he consulted the
\nleaders of the major political parties. He did not do so when he
\nreplaced them. Although it was his constitutional prerogative to
\nreplace the ministers, it was not done in the spirit of joint
\nresponsibility. The problem arose when he accused the ministers
\nof corruption, collusion and nepotism.<\/p>\n
We question your ethics. I'm not satisfied with the response
\nand we will follow up this matter, using our other rights.<\/p>\n
Ekky Sjachruddin, Golkar Party of Reform faction:<\/p>\n
I was at the meeting (in April). Golkar stated that it
\nsupported the decision to fire ministers if they were involved in
\ncorruptive practices, even if they were Golkar ministers. But if
\nthe ministers denied the accusations, naturally we need to seek
\nclarification.<\/p>\n
We ask for your wisdom as a kyai (Muslim teacher): Apologize
\nif they (the ministers) were not guilty. It costs nothing, and
\nyou will stay on until 2004.<\/p>\n
Aisyah Amini, United Development faction (F-PP):<\/p>\n
I regret that the President did not respond to the questions.
\nThe people and the House are disappointed.<\/p>\n
You are hiding behind the presidential system by denying the
\nHouse of its constitutional right. That reminds us of the New
\nOrder regime. Soeharto also hid behind the system and did not
\nwish to be disturbed by the House. He ruled for 32 years. Is that
\nwhat you're trying to do? I hope not.<\/p>\n
Marwah Daud, Golkar Party of Reform faction:<\/p>\n
The President could exercise his full prerogative if he had
\nwon the election with a 50 percent plus majority. He did not. We
\nhad hoped there would be consultations, because we need to work
\ntogether, to forge unity. Now, that hope has been dashed with his
\ndecisions to fire Yusuf Kalla, Laksamana Sukardi, and previously,
\nGen. Wiranto and Hamzah Haz.<\/p>\n
While we regret that the information was leaked from a closed-
\ndoor meeting, we regret more the fact that those (accusatory)
\nwords were said at such a meeting. Nobody, except the judiciary,
\nhas the right to make such accusations.<\/p>\n
Julius Usman, Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle faction:<\/p>\n
The President has a moral obligation to explain why there were
\ntwo conflicting reasons (for firing the ministers). The
\naccusations were sinful and slanderous. Even if they were made in
\na closed-door meeting, the angels would still write them down. In
\nany case, people will soon find out. They have ways.<\/p>\n
The President has a moral obligation not only to the House but
\nalso to the people, lest he accept the term of a liar or a
\nslanderer.<\/p>\n
We hope the President and Vice President will serve their term
\nuntil 2004, but that is up to the President. We cannot force you.<\/p>\n
Nurdiati Akma, Reform faction<\/p>\n
Can we still hope to have a leader which reflects the
\nleadership of the Prophet (Muhammad)?<\/p>\n
I hope in the future you will be more cautious and realize
\nyour position as a President who protects your people. Every word
\nyou utter, every step you take, affects the lives of the people
\nin this country.(emb\/prb\/jun)<\/p>",
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