'It will all over in August'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri gave her
\nstrongest signal yet at what she expects to happen in the coming
\nmonths when she said the political impasse gripping the country
\nwould be over by mid-August.<\/p>\n
Megawati, touted as a presidential candidate with the
\nleadership of Abdurrahman Wahid on the ropes, said during a
\nmeeting with the executives of the Association of Young
\nIndonesian Businessmen (HIPMI) that political stability and
\ncertainty would prevail by the Aug. 17 Independence Day
\ncelebrations.<\/p>\n
Association chairman Hariyadi B. Sukamdani said after meeting
\nthe Vice President at Merdeka Selatan Palace on Thursday: \"Ibu
\nMega did not elaborate, but said Insya Allah (God Willing), all
\nof the country's problems will be resolved by that day.\"<\/p>\n
The country is bracing for a fiery political conclusion to the
\ntroubled 20-month presidency of Abdurrahman when the People's
\nConsultative Assembly, Indonesia's highest institution, convenes
\nfor a special session starting Aug. 1.<\/p>\n
The Assembly will call for the President to deliver his
\naccountability speech, which, if rejected, could see Megawati
\nushered in as the new president.<\/p>\n
Megawati's party, the Indonesian Democratic of Struggle (PDI
\nPerjuangan), has been one of the majority factions leading the
\ncharge to hold a special session.<\/p>\n
According to Hariyadi, Megawati also expressed confidence that
\nthe security condition would remain under control in the run-up
\nto the special session, pointing to the crucial role of the
\nIndonesian Military (TNI) and her own party executives in easing
\npossible tensions.<\/p>\n
\"Insya Allah (God's willing) nothing will happen. I am sure
\nthat TNI is fully aware of their position,\" Hariyadi said quoting
\nMegawati, while adding that the Vice President was hopeful the
\nbusiness community would also remain calm during the key period.<\/p>\n
President Abdurrahman has claimed that the legislators'
\npersistence in holding a special session would provoke clashes
\nbetween supporters and opposition forces of the President.<\/p>\n
Megawati brushed aside these fears on Thursday.<\/p>\n
\"The one that can actually provoke riots is the winner of the
\ngeneral election, but we did not do that and we are always
\nagainst any violence,\" Megawati said, referring to her party who
\nwon about a third of the popular vote during the 1999 general
\nelection.<\/p>\n
Cabinet<\/p>\n
In another apparent show of defiance, Megawati, who has all
\nbut distanced herself from Abdurrahman's government, skipped on
\nThursday the first Cabinet meeting convened since a small
\nreshuffle saw Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono replaced as coordinating
\nminister for political, social and security affairs by Agum
\nGumelar.<\/p>\n
Close aides to Megawati have said that she was not consulted
\nabout the shake-up, which also saw Marzuki Darusman replaced as
\nattorney general by Baharuddin Lopa.<\/p>\n
The President during the three-hour meeting reportedly
\ninstructed Agum to approach party leaders, legislators and other
\nelite in a bid to reconcile with his political foes.<\/p>\n
Agum revealed that he would also approach Megawati in her
\ncapacity as the PDI Perjuangan chairperson.<\/p>\n
\"I was instructed to break the current political communication
\nstandoff,\" Agum told reporters at the Bina Graha presidential
\noffice.<\/p>\n
Agum inherited from Susilo an executive order to maintain
\nsecurity amid the anticipated security unrest, which could erupt
\nin the run-up to the special session.<\/p>\n
He also pledged on Thursday to take stern measures in
\nrestoring security and public order, especially in the troubled
\nprovinces of Irian Jaya and Aceh.<\/p>\n
Separately during a discussion, Susilo said on Thursday the
\nAssembly's coming special session must resolve the political
\nimpasse by endorsing a new leader and government.<\/p>\n
\"The incoming special session must be able to produce a
\ncomprehensive solution for the sake of the nation and the state.
\nWe must first salvage the state above all other things. We will
\nhave a new and effective leader and government,\" he said during
\nthe book launch of Kedudukan Militer dalam Islam (The Military's
\nRole in an Islamic Perspective).<\/p>\n
Susilo also admitted that Abdurrahman's administration had
\nfailed.<\/p>\n
\"Not only has it been wasteful, we've also failed to do
\nanything significant for the people,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said the coming special session was a good opportunity for
\nall to come to a common consensus to lift the nation out of its
\nmultidimensional crisis. (dja\/rms\/prb)<\/p>",
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