Gus Dur's team, parties divided over session's agenda<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The lobbying team of embattled President
\nAbdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid and party leaders agreed on Tuesday
\nto overcome the political stalemate in the special session of
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly (MPR) in August, but the two sides
\nwere divided over the event's main agenda.<\/p>\n
One of the President's envoys, Minister of Defense Mahfud
\nM.D., admitted that the special session being prepared by the MPR
\nWorking Committee looked unavoidable but questioned its main
\nagenda of hearing the President's accountability for his
\nadministration.<\/p>\n
Mahfud, who is a constitutional law professor, said the MPR's
\nrequest for Abdurrahman's accountability speech was
\nunconstitutional because of its questionable legal basis that
\ncenters on two financial scandals, which have led to two motions
\nof censure by the House.<\/p>\n
"It's debatable whether the special session complies with the
\nConstitution. But we understand that the special session is a
\nneutral forum to seek a solution to the political crisis, instead
\nof an arena to topple the President," Mahfud said in a press
\nconference at his office that followed meetings with Golkar Party
\nchairman Akbar Tandjung and United Development Party (PPP)
\nchairman Hamzah Haz.<\/p>\n
Mahfud said he held talks with Hamzah and other PPP top
\nfigures on Tuesday and with Akbar on Monday.<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security
\nAffairs Agum Gumelar has been assigned with lobbying Vice
\nPresident Megawati Soekarnoputri, in her capacity as chairwoman
\nof the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan),
\nand the military while Finance Minister Rizal Ramli and Attorney
\nGeneral Baharuddin Lopa will approach Amien Rais, chairman of the
\nNational Mandate Party (PAN), and Crescent Star Party (PBB)
\nleaders.<\/p>\n
Mahfud insisted that the President did no harm to the
\nConstitution in connection with the two scandals following a
\nclarification by the Attorney General's Office, which said that
\nit found no evidence of the President's involvement in the scams.<\/p>\n
"Gus Dur has no objection to the order to deliver his
\naccountability speech in the special session, but the Assembly
\nshould mention which violations the President has committed and
\nhas to account for," he said.<\/p>\n
The President has repeatedly said that he will present his
\naccountability speech in the Assembly's general session in 2004.<\/p>\n
Mahfud said the President is ready to make a political
\ncompromise or a power-sharing arrangement with parties only after
\nthe special session.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Ali Marwan Hanan, secretary-general of PPP, said
\nhis party had not struck any deal with Mahfud in their first
\nmeeting, but asserted the Muslim-based party was ready to seek a
\ncompromise in the special session.<\/p>\n
"We hardly touched the substance of a political compromise
\nbecause we were still divided over the special session's agenda,"
\nhe said, adding that it was important for the President to attend
\nthe special session.<\/p>\n
"If a compromise is reached, we have to bring it forward to
\nthe MPR special session for endorsement," he said.<\/p>\n
PDI Perjuangan deputy chairman Roy B.B. Janis said that the
\nparty was ready to hold a dialog with the President's team, but
\nso far Megawati Soekarnoputri had not arranged a schedule for a
\nmeeting with them.<\/p>\n
Sutjipto, secretary-general of PDI Perjuangan, said his party
\nwould call for a special session ahead of the scheduled one if
\npolitical tension continued to mount.<\/p>\n
The MPR Working Committee is preparing a draft decree on
\nappointment of Megawati as president if the President's
\naccountability speech is rejected.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile Akbar Tandjung said that despite the Assembly's
\nprobable rejection of the President's accountability, there will
\nbe a chance for Gus Dur and parties to work out a political
\ncompromise.<\/p>\n
"There is still a chance for the President and parties to
\nreach a political compromise despite the Assembly's possible
\nrejection of the President's accountability speech," he said.
\n(rms\/dja\/02)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gus-durs-team-parties-divided-over-sessions-agenda-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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