House Speaker criticizes President's calls for peace<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): House of Representatives(DPR) Speaker Akbar
\nTandjung on Wednesday criticized President Abdurrahman Wahid's
\ncalls for peace, while letting his supporters throng the capital
\nto express support for him.<\/p>\n
He said he decided to refuse the invitation to accompany the
\nPresident during his nationally televised address, slated for
\nFriday, as the latter did not clarify the substance of his
\nspeech.<\/p>\n
\"The speech calling for peace is ironical. He (President
\nAbdurrahman) calls for peace, but he lets his supporters throng
\nthe capital,\" Akbar told reporters.<\/p>\n
\"If it (the speech) is in the nation's interest, I think other
\npolitical figures should be involved. If that were the case, I
\nwould reconsider my decision,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"What is the relevance of my presence there if it is the
\nPresident's task,\" he added.<\/p>\n
The speech will be read by presidential spokesman Wimar
\nWitoelar.<\/p>\n
Akbar disclosed on Tuesday that President Abdurrahman had
\nasked him and Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri to appear
\nwith him on television during his nationwide address to reduce
\npolitical tension ahead of the House's plenary session on April
\n30.<\/p>\n
The House, during the plenary session, will hear the factions'
\nevaluation of the President's response to the memorandum of
\ncensure against him.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan)'s
\ndeputy secretary-general, Pramono Anung Wibowo, said separately
\nthat it was awkward for other political leaders to appear on
\ntelevision with the President during the speech.<\/p>\n
\"Especially when it is clear that it is not Gus Dur who will
\nbe delivering the speech, but the presidential spokesman,\"
\nPramono said.<\/p>\n
A security coordination meeting at the House decided on
\nWednesday evening that the House compound would be off limits to
\ndemonstrators on April 30.<\/p>\n
\"On the day of the plenary session, only the legislators,
\njournalists and related officials will be allowed to enter the
\ncompound,\" Jakarta Police deputy chief Brig. Gen. Makbul
\nPadmanegara said as quoted by SCTV, a private television station.<\/p>\n
Police also announced plans to use 90 armored cars to evacuate
\nlawmakers if street protests in the House vicinity turned violent
\nduring Monday's plenary session.<\/p>\n
The plenary session will also determine whether to issue a
\nsecond memorandum of censure against Abdurrahman, who is under
\nincreasing pressure to resign over his erratic style of
\nleadership and alleged involvement in corruption.<\/p>\n
A water-filled fiberglass barricade has also been set up to
\ndeter people from trying to breach the security cordon.<\/p>\n
Several television stations will also broadcast the session so
\nthat people can watch it from their homes, the officer said.<\/p>\n
Akbar said the House was determined to hold the plenary
\nsession in the DPR building.<\/p>\n
A total of 7,000 police and military personnel will be
\ndeployed in vicinity of the DPR out of some 40,000 troops
\ndispatched to safeguard the capital.<\/p>\n
The coordination meeting also decided that the House would not
\nreceive any guests on April 30, saying that anyone attempting to
\nforcefully enter the House compound, including by jumping over
\nthe fence or removing the water-filled barricade, would be shot
\nby security officers.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, President Abdurrahman, and top Cabinet members and
\nsecurity officials went ahead with their weekly breakfast meeting
\nat Megawati's official residence on Wednesday morning, despite
\nthe latter's absence.<\/p>\n
Megawati is on a two-day working visit to Bali and scheduled
\nto return to Jakarta on Wednesday evening.<\/p>\n
Speaking to media after the meeting, Wimar said the President
\nand top security officials discussed security preparations ahead
\nof the April 30 House plenary session.<\/p>\n
Wimar's statement came as security personnel deployed armored
\ncars and reinforced security at the DPR building later in the
\nday.<\/p>\n
Present at the breakfast meeting were Indonesian Military
\nchief Adm. Widodo A.S., three military chiefs of staff, the
\nNational Police chief Surojo Bimantoro, Coordinating Minister for
\nPolitical, Social and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
\nand defense minister Mahfud M.D. (byg\/edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/house-speaker-criticizes-presidents-calls-for-peace-1447893297",
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