'Mega's Dili trip her prerogrative'<\/p>\n
Annastashya Emmanuelle, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Officials of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
\nPerjuangan) said they were not concerned about a bid by some
\nHouse of Representatives (DPR) legislators to summon President
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri over her recent East Timor visit, asking
\nthe legislators to maintain a sober approach on the issue.<\/p>\n
Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno, deputy House speaker of PDI
\nPerjuangan faction in the House, said on Saturday that the
\npresident, who is also chairwoman of PDI Perjuangan, should not
\nbe summoned and did not need to explain each of her policies as
\nit would cloud the president's prerogative.<\/p>\n
\"If all of the president's policy is questioned, then what
\nabout her prerogative? How are we going to implement our foreign
\npolicy as good neighbors? I think our friends at the House should
\ncontemplate on this as well,\" Soetardjo told reporters after
\nattending the Pancasila Day commemoration at the PDI Perjuangan
\nheadquarters in South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Megawati would as well soon be summoned to explain the
\nexistence of the Presidential Aid (Banpres) after she allocated
\nRp 30 billion (US$3 million) of the funds to renovate military
\nand police housing.<\/p>\n
Thus far, 31 legislators from eight of the House's nine
\nfactions have submitted a petition to House leaders asking
\nPresident Megawati to explain her May 19 visit to East Timor to
\nattend its independence ceremony.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, PDI Perjuangan deputy chairman Roy BB Janis asked
\nthe House legislators to be more rational in dealing with both
\nEast Timor and the Presidential Aid issues.<\/p>\n
Roy said his party was not too concerned with the plan to
\nsummon Megawati, claiming that those who signed did not represent
\ntheir respective factions' positions, only themselves.<\/p>\n
He said the nation must also stay true to its principle of
\nrespecting the other countries' independence.<\/p>\n
\"I think they (House members) must firstly learn and think
\nabout the principles of respecting the independence of a country
\nand about living side by side with neighboring countries.<\/p>\n
\"Besides, the fact that East Timor is an independent country
\nis a truth that we could not escape,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Asked whether the move could shake Megawati's position as
\npreviously happened to then president Abdurrahman Wahid, Roy
\ndefiantly challenged those who aspired to do so.<\/p>\n
\"If there is an attempt to unseat Megawati, her supporters
\nwill absolutely stand up for her,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/megas-dili-trip-her-prerogrative-1447893297",
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