Parties doubtful of Gus Dur's impeachment<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): With support aplenty for a People's Consultative
\nAssembly special session to impeach President Abdurrahman Wahid,
\na top official of the National Awakening Party (PKB) faction in
\nthe Assembly says signs of apprehension are visible among the
\npower brokers over whether to proceed with the constitutional
\nmove.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the PKB faction, Yusuf Muhammad, told the media at
\nthe House of Representatives building on Tuesday that even major
\nfactions like the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
\nPerjuangan) and Golkar were uncertain about the prospect of an
\nMPR special session.<\/p>\n
\"All political forces are anxious to move ahead to the special
\nsession. We, therefore, call for a settlement to the nation's
\nproblems though political compromise,\" Yusuf said.<\/p>\n
The PKB was founded by Abdurrahman, who is now the party's
\nchief patron.<\/p>\n
Yusuf said that PDI Perjuangan, despite its leading role, was
\nhalf-hearted about the move to haul Abdurrahman before an MPR
\nspecial session.<\/p>\n
\"They're still not certain that they'll be able to resolve the
\ncrisis facing the nation after assuming power. Besides, they are
\nstill traumatized by the Axis Force maneuver,\" Yusuf said.<\/p>\n
The Axis Force, a loose coalition of Muslim parties,
\ncatapulted Abdurrahman to the presidency at Megawati's expense in
\n1999, but now staunchly supports her elevation to the top
\nexecutive job in place of Abdurrahman.<\/p>\n
Yusuf said Golkar also \"feels secure\" under Abdurrahman,
\nbecause he allows the party to have a say in both the economic
\nfield and the bureaucracy.<\/p>\n
The Axis Force, according to Yusuf, will be facing a split
\nwhen it comes to the question of the vice presidency should
\nMegawati take over the reins of power from Abdurrahman.<\/p>\n
\"Therefore, an (Assembly) special session is just a way to
\nsolve the problems and not the solution itself. There is a chance
\nof reaching political compromises,\" Yusuf said.<\/p>\n
Separately, the moves of House faction leaders to convene a
\nspecial session in order to produce an effective government
\ngained more support, with the United Development Party (PPP)
\ncalling for an accelerated special session.<\/p>\n
Hamzah Haz, the chairman of PPP, said his party fully accepted
\nthe conclusion reached by House faction leaders that
\nAbdurrahman's government had lost the support of the majority of
\npolitical parties and that an effective government was urgently
\nneeded to defuse the protracted crisis.<\/p>\n
He was speaking after a two-hour meeting with leaders of five
\nfactions at the PPP headquarters here on Tuesday afternoon.<\/p>\n
The faction leaders were Arifin Panigoro of PDI Perjuangan,
\nSyamsul Muarif of Golkar, Alimarwan Hanan of PPP, Hatta Radjasa
\nof the National Mandate Party (PAN) and Amiruddin Djaja Subita of
\nthe Ummat Sovereignty Party (PDU).<\/p>\n
The faction leaders had previously met with Yuzril Ihza
\nMahendra, chairman of the Crescent Star Party (PBB), and Amien
\nRais, the chairman of PAN. Both figures pledged their support for
\na special session to overcome the political crisis.<\/p>\n
Arifin, who acted as spokesman for the faction leaders, said
\nthey would soon meet with Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri,
\nGolkar chairman Akbar Tandjung, and Indonesian Military commander
\nAdmiral Widodo Adi Sutjipto.<\/p>\n
The faction leaders reiterated that they preferred a special
\nsession as a constitutional way of resolving the political
\ndeadlock, rather than a Cabinet reshuffle based on the parties'
\nrepresentation in the House.<\/p>\n
\"The President recently offered a political compromise but the
\nmajor parties have given it the cold shoulder,\" said Syamsul.<\/p>\n
Arifin dismissed a political compromise, saying the main
\nproblem was not the cabinet but the President himself.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, PDI Perjuangan gave a strong signal on Tuesday that
\nthey would support a special session, saying that the President
\nhad yet to response to the second House censure.<\/p>\n
Kwik Kian Gie, a senior party member, said after a meeting
\nwith Megawati at her official residence that the President had
\nignored the two memorandums of censure served on him.<\/p>\n
\"If the President provides a satisfactory response then it
\nwill stop, but if the reply is disappointing, there will be no
\nother option than a special session,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In Surabaya, East Java, a number of mass organizations that
\nclaimed to be affiliated to PDI Perjuangan stated their
\nopposition to the proposed special session and threatened to
\nsever their ties with the party if their protests were ignored.<\/p>\n
The organizations, grouped under the umbrella of the People's
\nSovereignty Unity Front (Sakera), had around one million
\nsupporters, coordinator of the movement Supriyanto claimed on
\nTuesday.<\/p>\n
He further asserted that he did not believe Megawati had given
\nsupport for a special session to impeach President Abdurrahman
\nWahid. (rms\/dja\/emf\/nur)<\/p>",
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