PKB faction not to react to report on Bulog scandal<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The National Awakening Party (PKB) faction
\nstated Thursday that it would not take any political action as a
\nresult of the special committee investigation of the Bulog
\nscandal.<\/p>\n
\"We hope the result of the committee should be clear of any
\npolitical nuances and the report will be objective,\" faction
\nmember Ali Masykur Moesa told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
The party is a strong supporter of President Abdurrahman
\nWahid.<\/p>\n
Ali said the House of Representatives should consider the
\nlegal aspects of the case instead of considering political
\nmeasures over the scandal allegedly involving Abdurrahman.<\/p>\n
\"Let each faction decide how to react to the result ... we
\nwill ignore all political currents of the case,\" Ali, who is also
\na committee member, remarked.<\/p>\n
The faction's position regarding the findings of the special
\ncommittee was determined in a meeting held Wednesday night.<\/p>\n
The special committee is investigating Abdurrahman's alleged
\ninvolvement in the fraudulent receipt of Rp 35 billion (US$3.7
\nmillion) from the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) by his masseur
\nand the status of $2 million given to Abdurrahman by the Sultan
\nof Brunei, which the President claims was a personal gift.<\/p>\n
The committee is scheduled to reveal the results of its
\ninvestigation at the House plenary session on Monday.<\/p>\n
The biggest faction in the House, the Indonesian Democratic
\nParty of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) will discuss its position on
\nFriday at the party's general session, which will be attended by
\nVice President Megawati Soekarnoputri, who is also chairperson.<\/p>\n
\"The party's executive board will announce the faction's
\nposition concerning the result on Friday,\" faction member Sophan
\nSophiaan said.<\/p>\n
The faction held a meeting on Wednesday night at the party's
\nheadquarters, but members refused to comment about the meeting
\nsaying that Megawati instructed that the discussions should
\nremain confidential for now.<\/p>\n
Sources of the Post, however, said it was likely the party
\nwould not pursue further political action to follow up the
\nfindings of the committee.<\/p>\n
\"The faction considers the House is not a judicial body, so
\nthe committee will just report the case to the House general
\nsession and leave it there as legal action should follow up the
\nresult,\" the source said.<\/p>\n
The second largest faction at the House, the Golkar Party,
\nwill decide its position on Jan. 30 after the House plenary
\nsession, according to Golkar member, Ade Komaruddin.<\/p>\n
\"We will consider what to do on Jan. 30, because according to
\nthe House Consultative Body every faction will announce their
\nstance on Feb.1,\" he told the Post, adding that Golkar would
\nfollow up on the case.<\/p>\n
Deputy speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) of
\nthe Indonesian Military (TNI)\/National Police faction, Lt. Gen.
\nHari Sabarno, said on Thursday that the House could not topple
\nthe President due to the Indonesian political system which does
\nnot recognize an impeachment mechanism.<\/p>\n
\"Even if the House's special committee has announced their
\ninvestigation and declared that Gus Dur is involved in both
\nfinancial scandals, it takes more than four months to ask him to
\nresign,\" Hari said on the sidelines of a seminar at TNI
\nheadquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Hari said that based on the Constitution, the House might
\nrecommend a memorandum concerning Gus Dur and ask MPR to hold a
\nSpecial Session.<\/p>\n
\"But the validity of the first memorandum is only three
\nmonths. If Gus Dur gave no satisfactory answer, the House might
\nissue a second memorandum which would be valid for one more
\nmonth.<\/p>\n
\"The Special Session could only be held if the House is still
\nunsatisfied with Gus Dur's answer. The House should respect this
\nmechanism,\" Hari said.<\/p>\n
Hari refused to confirm the military was exerting a strong
\ninfluence to support or to topple Gus Dur, saying that the most
\ninfluential faction was the Indonesian Democratic Party of
\nStruggle.<\/p>\n
\"But if all of the political parties and the Indonesian people
\nasked Gus Dur to resign, TNI should stand on that reality,\" Hari
\nsaid. (dja\/02)<\/p>",
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