Options in a virtual emergency: Ichlasul Amal<\/p>\n
The country's political situation appears to be going from bad
\nto worse, with thousands of rival demonstrators taking to the
\nstreets to voice their opinions. Political lecturer and the
\nrector of Yogyakarta's Gadjah Mada University, Ichlasul Amal, who
\nis also an executive of the Muhammadiyah Islamic organization,
\ndiscusses the stalemate.<\/p>\n
Question: Do you think the conflicting stances on President
\nAbdurrahman Wahid, or Gus Dur, could lead to physical clashes if
\nthe current situation persists?<\/p>\n
Answer: Yes. That is why Gus Dur should resign, because his
\nresignation would avert this impending head-on collision between
\nstudents and other elements of society. But if Gus Dur persists
\nin continuing his presidency, a physical clash between student
\nprotesters will occur ....<\/p>\n
Student movements are divided into several groups with
\ndifferent platforms. During the reform movement in 1998, they
\nwere united in one demand, namely Soeharto's resignation,
\nalthough they had different ideas about how to go about
\nimplementing reform. Gus Dur is not a common enemy as Soeharto
\nwas. It is impossible to get all of the students to be 100
\npercent anti-Gus Dur.<\/p>\n
Students also have conflicting views on how to solve the
\ncountry's problems and how the reform agenda should be
\nimplemented. This has led to their different stances on Gus Dur.
\nOne camp sees him as part of the problem, while the other camp
\ndoes not.<\/p>\n
Wouldn't Gus Dur's resignation cause anger among his
\nsupporters, particularly those from Nahdlatul Ulama, the Muslim
\norganization he once chaired?<\/p>\n
I do not think so, not if Gus Dur tendered his resignation
\nvoluntarily and let his supporters know his resignation was in
\nthe nation's interest, not because of political pressure.<\/p>\n
Legislators have different views on accelerating a special
\nsession of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), which could
\nlead to the President's impeachment. Your comment?<\/p>\n
Politically there is no problem expediting the special session
\nsince legislators have agreed to submit a formal request to the
\nMPR for this purpose, despite the fact that legally the MPR
\nspecial session requires two memorandums of censure against the
\nPresident.<\/p>\n
So, wouldn't holding a special session now, when only one
\nmemorandum of censure has been issued against the President, be
\nextraconstitutional?<\/p>\n
You could say that, but the DPR (House of Representatives) can
\ntake such an initiative in the case of an emergency, if it
\nbelieves the situation in the nation is worsening.<\/p>\n
If Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri took over as
\npresident, do you believe the political climate would improve?<\/p>\n
I do not know whether Megawati can deal with the country's
\nproblems, but at least one cause of the current political
\ninstability will have been removed if Gus Dur resigns.<\/p>\n
Do you think Gus Dur is part of the country's problems?<\/p>\n
Yes, because his responses to different matters always spark
\ncontroversy, particularly among legislators. I think this is also
\nthe result of his physical constraints. I believe there are
\n\"whisperers\" (influencing) him. When he picks up information from
\nthese informants, their own opinions appear to be included.<\/p>\n
Could a Megawati presidency last to the end of the current
\nterm in 2004, given the drastic change in the stance of Islam-
\nbased political parties on a woman president?<\/p>\n
I think so as long as nothing extraordinary occurs. Moreover,
\nMegawati's PDI Perjuangan (Indonesian Democratic Party of
\nStruggle) has many supporters. Muslim political parties accept
\nMegawati (as the successor to Gus Dur) because it is
\nconstitutional and there is no other alternative.<\/p>\n
The previous stance of the United Development Party (PPP)
\nrejecting a woman president was part of its political maneuvering
\nto attract Muslim voters ... to prevent more Muslims from
\nsupporting the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, which had
\ndecided on Megawati as its presidential candidate.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of students have held rallies recently to protest
\ncomments made by you, which they saw as supportive of anti-Gus
\nDur parties. They also questioned the neutrality of Gadjah Mada
\nUniversity. You are also a member of Muhammadiyah's executive
\nboard. Your comment?<\/p>\n
I do not think I am biased. Many people are mistaken in
\nthinking that Gus Dur's resignation would strengthen the
\npolitical legitimacy of (former Muhammadiyah chairman) Amien
\nRais. That is not true ... just look, the media is clearly
\nreluctant to quote Amien.<\/p>\n
Gus Dur can act as the nation's elder statesman if he
\nresigns ... a leader does not have to defend his position to the
\nlast drop of blood. (Asip A. Hasani)<\/p>",
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