House factions consider expediting special session<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Major factions in the House of Representatives
\nare seriously considering calling for an expedited special
\nsession of the People's Consultative Assembly, in response to
\nPresident Abdurrahman Wahid's latest political moves.<\/p>\n
Syamsul Muarif, chairman of the Golkar Party faction, said
\nmajor factions in the House were deeply concerned with the
\npresident's ongoing political maneuvers to displace top officials
\nin the Indonesian Military and the National Police, along with
\ninvestigations into his political foes.<\/p>\n
"The President's crazy actions have resulted not only in
\nconfusion among the people but also serious internal friction in
\nthe military and the National Police," he told The Jakarta Post
\nby telephone on Thursday.<\/p>\n
"Disintegration will be inevitable if an internal split
\nhappens both in the military and the National Police."<\/p>\n
The President in the last two weeks has conducted two Cabinet
\nreshuffles replacing top political, security and economic
\nministers, along with the Attorney General. He has also suspended
\nthe National Police chief.<\/p>\n
Many view the move as a desperate last ditch strategy to save
\nhis presidency, with a special session, which could remove him
\nfrom office, less than two months away.<\/p>\n
The situation has been compounded by the sudden launch of a
\ncorruption investigation into leading political opponents.<\/p>\n
Syamsul claimed that major factions such as the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and the Reform
\nfaction were of the same view.<\/p>\n
"The proposal will be discussed in a factions' meeting on
\nFriday and our decision will be announced in a press conference
\nafter the meeting," he said.<\/p>\n
Any proposal to hasten the special session would have to first
\nbe approved by the Assembly's working committee.<\/p>\n
A member of the working committee, Fahmi Idris, maintained
\nthat there has been no official discussion on expediting the
\nspecial session which is currently set for Aug. 1 as the
\ncommittee is not due to convene for another fortnight.<\/p>\n
"We will stick to the Constitution which stipulates that the
\nspecial session is held two months after it is recommended by the
\nHouse of representatives," Fahmi told the Post.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless he conceded that informal meetings between the
\nseven House factions, which excluded the TNI\/National Police
\nfaction, the National Awakening Party faction and the Love the
\nNation Democratic faction, concluded that expediting the special
\nsession was necessary.<\/p>\n
"The demand to hasten the special session has crystallized
\namong us as Gus Dur has tried to violate the Constitution by
\ntrying to replace the TNI chief without asking approval from the
\nHouse.<\/p>\n
"To wait until Aug. 1 is useless," Fahmi, who is also a Golkar
\nParty member, said.<\/p>\n
He added that factions were contemplating June 25 or July 1 as
\nthe new schedule for the special session.<\/p>\n
A team of legal experts to study the legal validity of such a
\nhastened session has been formed.<\/p>\n
The team includes Jimmly Assiddiqie from the Association of
\nIndonesian Muslim Intellectuals (ICMI) and former minister of
\njustice and human rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile Achmad Sumargono, chairman of the Crescent Star
\nParty (PBB) faction, was convinced that a hastened special
\nsession would be proposed and it would be up to the working
\ncommittee to follow up.<\/p>\n
"We are very concerned with the President's current political
\nmoves. His has threatened to issue a decree declaring a state of
\ncivil emergency, he had taken bizarre actions both in the
\nmilitary and the National Police. Now, he is going to arrest his
\npolitical opponents," he said.<\/p>\n
Achmad urged the President not to overreact in facing the
\nspecial session and to instead conduct a concerted and measured
\nlobby of political parties to seek political compromise.<\/p>\n
"The President's political maneuvers are counterproductive as
\nthe military and the National Police have demonstrated their
\ndisloyalty to him. It is a sign that the country has reached a
\ncritical point," he said. (rms\/02)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/house-factions-consider-expediting-special-session-1447893297",
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