Proposal for expedited election wins support<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The proposal to hold an expedited general
\nelection won the support on Friday of officials of the Nahdlatul
\nUlama (NU) Muslim organization and political observer Arbi Sanit.<\/p>\n
\"The idea to expedite the general election is aimed at
\navoiding a political vacuum since the current government has been
\nunable to perform its daily duties ... and it is Gus Dur's
\nadministration that should hold the general election,\" NU deputy
\nsecretary-general Masduki Baidlawi told The Jakarta Post,
\nreferring to the President by his nickname.<\/p>\n
Earlier on Thursday, NU chairman Hasyim Muzadi suggested that
\nan expedited general election was necessary to settle the rift
\nbetween the executive and legislative branches.<\/p>\n
\"Holding an expedited general election would allow the
\nbickering political camps to save face,\" Hasyim said at the NU
\nsecretariat.<\/p>\n
Masduki also said an expedited general election was the only
\noption to allow the political elite to compete fairly for the
\npresidency. \"Through this fair competition, nobody will get hurt
\neven if they lose.\"<\/p>\n
Masduki, however, said that Hasyim's statement was a personal
\nopinion and not the official stance of NU.<\/p>\n
\"The idea will likely be discussed at the NU plenary session
\nto be held in Banten next month,\" Masduki said.<\/p>\n
The plenary session, which is expected to be attended by NU's
\nadvisory board and its affiliated bodies and institutions, will
\nevaluate NU's policies and activities, and discuss the latest
\npolitical developments in the country.<\/p>\n
Masduki dismissed speculation that urging an expedited
\nelection was a maneuver to prevent Vice President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri from taking over as head of state if Abdurrahman
\nfailed to maintain his presidency.<\/p>\n
\"I think Megawati should not worry that she might lose the
\nelection as she leads the country's largest party,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Similarly, Arbi Sanit said this was the best option to settle
\nthe country's prolonged political crisis.<\/p>\n
\"But the general election must be held with the district
\nsystem, while the president should be elected through a direct
\nelection,\" Arbi, a political lecturer of the University of
\nIndonesia, said on Friday.<\/p>\n
However, he warned that before a general election was held the
\nelection system must first be improved, saying it would otherwise
\nwaste time and money and trigger a dispute among the people.<\/p>\n
\"Without improving the whole system, the general election
\nwould only produce political elite of the same quality as the
\ncurrent leaders,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"But the best way to end the political rift immediately is to
\nbring all the political elite together to settle the problems of
\nthe country,\" he said, specifically mentioning Abdurrahman,
\nMegawati, House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung and
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais.<\/p>\n
\"Constitutionally, we cannot impeach the President. So Gus Dur
\nshould stay until 2004,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Separately, some 500 protesters from the Love-the-Nation
\nGeneration and the Betawi Youth Front staged a joint protest at
\nthe Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta on Friday,
\ndemanding Abdurrahman resign.<\/p>\n
\"Abdurrahman Wahid has prolonged the people's suffering with
\nthe unsolved recent ethnic violence, while other political
\nleaders never consider the interests of the people,\" Nasruddin,
\nwho led the protesters, said.<\/p>\n
He said the government and political leaders had to work to
\nprevent violence and anarchy in the nation.<\/p>\n
\"It would be better if President Abdurrahman Wahid, Assembly
\nSpeaker Amien Rais and House Speaker Akbar Tandjung resign if
\nthey cannot provide security for the people,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Nasruddin said his group would stage larger rallies at the
\nHouse and presidential palace next week. (01\/02\/dja)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/proposal-for-expedited-election-wins-support-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}