Lawmakers asked to be in Jakarta<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): People's Consultative Assembly speaker Amien
\nRais has asked all the Assembly's members to remain in the
\ncapital from Thursday onwards in anticipation of the possible
\nissuance of a presidential decree declaring a state of emergency.<\/p>\n
The request came amid reports that the government's
\nrepresentatives and leaders of the major political parties had
\nstruck a compromise to resolve the protracted standoff between
\nPresident Abdurrahman Wahid and his political foes.<\/p>\n
A top executive of the United Development Party (PPP),
\nAlimarwan Hanan, told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday that he, his
\nparty leader Hamzah Haz, Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung,
\nCoordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security Affairs
\nAgum Gumelar and Cabinet Secretary Marzuki Darusman met on Monday
\nnight at \"a certain place\" to discuss the political compromise.<\/p>\n
\"During the meeting we concluded that the President should
\ndelegate full powers to Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri,
\nwho would in return accord the President a highly respected
\nposition,\" Alimarwan said.<\/p>\n
He refused to elaborate, saying that the proposal would be
\nforwarded to the President.<\/p>\n
Alimarwan played down the absence of representatives from the
\nlargest block in the Assembly, the Indonesian Democratic Party of
\nStruggle (PDI Perjuangan), at the meeting.<\/p>\n
\"It was an ordinary forum to seek the best solution to the
\nongoing political crisis,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said the meeting followed separate talks between
\nAbdurrahman and Akbar and Hamzah last week.<\/p>\n
\"Agum was present yesterday (Monday) on Abdurrahman's behalf
\nafter Agum was ordered to follow up on the previous meetings,\"
\nAlimarwan said.<\/p>\n
It remained unclear in what capacity Marzuki attended the last
\nmeeting, considering his position as Golkar deputy chairman.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman has repeatedly rejected a full power-sharing
\narrangement with Megawati, who is also chairwoman of the PDI
\nPerjuangan, saying such a scheme would be unconstitutional.<\/p>\n
In the latest display of his determination to keep his power
\nintact, Abdurrahman threatened to declare a state of civilian
\nemergency on Friday at 6 p.m. if the Assembly went ahead with its
\ndemand for him to account for his government's performance at the
\nspecial session.<\/p>\n
Amien said on Tuesday that all MPR legislators should be in
\nJakarta on July 19 so that they would be ready to convene a
\nplenary session as soon as the President declared a state of
\nemergency.<\/p>\n
At least 500 Assembly members are already in Jakarta as they
\nare also House of Representatives members. The House is due to
\nrecess next week.<\/p>\n
The Assembly's secretariat has sent official invitations to
\nall Assembly members to come to Jakarta before July 20.<\/p>\n
\"Only 127 assemblymen from the interest groups and regional
\nrepresentatives are still in their respective hometowns, but they
\nhave been invited to come to Jakarta before July 20,\" he
\nexplained.<\/p>\n
He said that some of the 127 assemblymen would check into the
\nCentury Park Hotel while the rest would be staying with their
\nrelatives here.<\/p>\n
\"Some of them will be accommodated in low-cost hotels for
\nefficiency's sake because those who have no relatives in Jakarta
\nwill continue to stay in the Hotel if the special session is not
\nbrought forward to July 20, or if it is held in accordance with
\nthe present schedule,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The other participants in the special session will stay in the
\nfive-star Mulia Senayan Hotel.<\/p>\n
Earlier on Tuesday, seven factions in the Assembly met with
\nthe MPR leadership, calling for the special session to be
\nimmediately convened if the President declared a state of
\nemergency.<\/p>\n
Suwarno, deputy chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of
\nStruggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction, said the six factions would
\nask the MPR leadership to immediately take the initiative in
\nimmediately convening the special session as the President would
\nhave violated the Constitution if he declared a state of
\nemergency.<\/p>\n
The six other factions were from the Golkar Party, United
\nDevelopment Party (PPP), Reform, Crescent Star Party (PBB),
\nsocietal group faction and the Ummah Sovereignty Party (PDU).<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, PDI Perjuangan chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri
\nordered all members of the party's faction to remain in Jakarta
\nfrom Tuesday onwards.<\/p>\n
Megawati also ordered party members to maintain security and
\norder in their respective areas ahead of the special session.
\nThey should also refrain from bringing party members and
\nsupporters onto the streets during the session.<\/p>\n
\"All members should restraint themselves and help keep the
\npeace during the special session. The party should work together
\nwith the community and keep up solidarity among fellow members,\"
\nthe statement, signed by Megawati, urged.<\/p>\n
The party's deputy secretary-general, Pramono Anung Wibowo,
\nalso said that faction members from PDI Perjuangan should stay in
\nthe capital from Tuesday onwards.<\/p>\n
\"All faction leaders should stay in the capital from Tuesday
\nfor an indefinite period,\" Pramono said at a press briefing after
\nthe party's weekly meeting on Tuesday, which was led by Megawati.
\n(rms\/dja)<\/p>",
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