Islamic parties demand early election<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A forum of several Muslim-based political
\nparties demanded on Wednesday an early general election and
\nnominated United Development Party (PPP) chairman Hamzah Haz for
\nthe presidency.<\/p>\n
\"We want the general election to be speeded up. We therefore
\nnominate Hamzah Haz for president, since PPP is the largest party
\nat the forum,\" the forum's deputy chairman, Imam Saksono, said at
\na media conference at the PPP headquarters in Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Imam said the forum had observed that President Abdurrahman
\nWahid had yet to improve his performance.<\/p>\n
The forum consists of nine political parties, including the
\nPPP, the Crescent Star Party (PBB), the Justice Party (PK), the
\nNahdlatul Ummah Party (PNU), the People's Awakening Party (PKU)
\nand the Muslim People Party (PUI).<\/p>\n
The forum urged the House of Representatives (DPR) to send a
\nmemorandum calling for a Special Session of the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR) to demand the President's
\naccountability, he said.<\/p>\n
He said if Abdurrahman resigned, he would constitutionally be
\nreplaced by incumbent Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri.<\/p>\n
\"But if the general election slated for 2004 could be speeded
\nup, political parties would not elect Megawati,\" Imam said.<\/p>\n
The political parties are known for objecting to the chairperson
\nof the 1999 election winner, the Indonesian Democratic Party of
\nStruggle (PDI Perjuangan), becoming president, because she is a
\nwoman.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, another forum of smaller Muslim parties led by
\npolitical scientist Deliar Noer called on all opposing groups and
\nsupporters of President Abdurrahman to set up a dialog to avoid
\nfurther conflict.<\/p>\n
\"It's regrettable that some legislators are also involved in
\nthe political bickering,\" Deliar, who is also a chairman of PUI,
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He suggested that the President's supporters from the
\ncountry's largest Muslim organization, the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU),
\nand its youth wing Ansor and security task force Banser, avoid
\nconflict with supporters of the Indonesian Muslim Students
\nAssociation (HMI), the Islamic Youth Movement (GPI) and the
\nHizbullah, who demand the resignation of Abdurrahman.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, calls for Abdurrahman's resignation continued on
\nWednesday with hundreds of people and students staging
\ndemonstrations nationwide.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, some 100 students, grouped under the Collective
\nAction Network, staged a protest in front of the State Palace,
\ndemanding that President Abdurrahman Wahid get on the right track
\nof reform.<\/p>\n
The student protesters from various private universities in
\nthe capital lashed out at the President, who was considered to be
\nviolating the reform spirit.<\/p>\n
\"The President is unable to enforce the law,\" the coordinator
\nof the protesters, Solihin, said. He was referring to the
\ngovernment's failure to execute the Supreme Court's verdict on
\nHutomo \"Tommy\" Mandala Putra, who is still at large, and to
\nprosecute three business tycoons suspected of committing
\ncorruption worth billions of dollars.<\/p>\n
In Makassar, South Sulawesi, about 500 people grouped under
\nthe Poros Merah Putih Indonesia (Indonesian Red-and-White Axis)
\nstaged an anti-Gus Dur protest at the South Sulawesi provincial
\nlegislative council.<\/p>\n
The protesters asked the councillors to push the House and the
\nAssembly in Jakarta to arrange for a Special Session to impeach
\nthe President.<\/p>\n
\"His administration has failed to improve people's quality of
\nlife, especially those living in remote areas. We want the
\ncouncillors to be aware of the situation and urge the House and
\nAssembly to arrange a Special Session,\" Adnan Tiro, a spokesman
\nfor the protesters, told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Hasbi, a protester, said it was time the President stepped
\ndown.<\/p>\n
In Surakarta, Central Java, some 150 members of the Indonesian
\nMuslim Students Front (KAMMI) took to the streets on Wednesday,
\ndemanding that the President resign. They gathered at Sebelas
\nMaret University yard, staging orations criticizing the
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
They said the President had failed to settle big problems,
\nciting the prolonged economic crisis, high unemployment rate and
\nbloody unrest in Aceh, Maluku and Irian Jaya.
\n(27\/asa\/har\/jun\/sur)<\/p>",
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