Lawmakers warn Megawati against political ploy<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Legislators warned Vice President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri on Friday that she might experience a similar fate
\nto incumbent President Abdurrahman Wahid if she joins the parties
\naimed at toppling the embattled President.<\/p>\n
Tjetje Hidajat Padnawinata, legislator of the Justice and
\nUnity Party (PKP), accused the Axis Force, which supported Gus
\nDur in the 1999 presidential elections, of being behind the plot
\nto unseat the President by exploiting his alleged involvement in
\ntwo financial scandals.<\/p>\n
He said the issuance of the first memorandum was part of the
\nlegislative body's conspiracy to pave the way for the Assembly to
\nimpeach the President.<\/p>\n
\"Megawati will be likely to face a fate similar to what Gus
\nDur is now facing and there is no guarantee that she will
\nmaintain her tenure until 2004 under such a mechanism,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Aberson Marle Sihaloho, a legislator from the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), said he was
\nconcerned with Megawati's ambiguous stance regarding the ongoing
\nploy to unseat the President.<\/p>\n
\"Megawati has failed to indicate her response to the efforts
\nto unconstitutionally topple the President. Her silence has given
\nan impression that she has ambitions to replace Gus Dur,\" he told
\njournalists here.<\/p>\n
He said Megawati, who is also chairperson of PDI Perjuangan,
\nshould clarify whether she supports Gus Dur or sides with PDI
\nPerjuangan officials who have joined the coalition of House
\nfactions seeking grounds for an expedited special session of the
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly (MPR).<\/p>\n
Aberson accused the issuance of the first memorandum, which
\nmay lead to the MPR special session by the end of May, as part of
\na series of unconstitutional attempts to topple Gus Dur.<\/p>\n
He cited that the efforts began when the President proposed
\nthe revocation of the controversial 1966 MPR Decree which bans
\nthe existence of the Indonesian Communist Party, Leninism and
\nMarxism, while at the same time proposing the resumption of trade
\nties with Israel.<\/p>\n
\"The two proposals sparked criticism and protest during the
\nAssembly's annual session last August,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Manasse Malo, of the Love the Nation Democratic Party (PDKB)
\nfaction, said all efforts to bring the President down had gained
\nno support from the people.<\/p>\n
\"The majority of people suffering from the crises do not care
\nabout the power struggle among the political elite and are
\ngetting bored with demonstrations that have no relationship with
\ntheir real needs,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Faisal Reza Rachmat, chairman of the Forum of
\nDemocratic Action and Studies (Fosad), said the maneuver to
\ntopple Gus Dur and replace him with Megawati could bring an end
\nto the latter's political career.<\/p>\n
\"It is very possible that Megawati will be 'stabbed in the
\nback' moments after she assumes power, and this will be a bad
\nprecedent for future presidents,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Faisal said Assembly Speaker Amien Rais should remain
\nconsistent with his support for Gus Dur to complete his five-year
\nterm until 2004. (rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/lawmakers-warn-megawati-against-political-ploy-1447893297",
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