Special session is illegal, says Gus Dur<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid charged that the
\naccelerated People's Consultative Assembly special session, which
\nbegan on Saturday, was illegal and manipulated by a small group
\nof people bent on his ouster.<\/p>\n
The President also alleged that the proceedings were being
\nengineered by certain parties, who might be involved in
\ncorruption cases, to shift attention from their offenses.<\/p>\n
He insisted he would not oblige the Assembly by presenting an
\naccountability report on Monday.<\/p>\n
He repeatedly questioned the basis of convening such a session
\nas he felt he had not committed any offense such as treason
\nagainst the state.<\/p>\n
\"I will not attend such an illegal gathering,\" the President
\nsaid at Merdeka Palace.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman also defended his decision to appoint Gen.
\nChaeruddin Ismail as caretaker National Police chief on Friday
\nsaying he had the authority to do so because the Assembly's
\ndecree only ruled the appointment and dismissal of the National
\nPolice chief.<\/p>\n
Assembly Speaker Amien Rais said on Friday night that
\nChaeruddin's appointment was one of the reasons for the
\naccelerated special session.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman said the recent upward trend of the rupiah and
\nstock market in Jakarta, following the Assembly's decision to
\nbegin impeachment proceedings against him, was proof of market
\nconfidence in his administration.<\/p>\n
\"The confidence of the market and private sector in the
\ngovernment is strengthening,\" he argued.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman said the declaration of a state of civil emergency
\nwas still very much in the cards and would be weighed in the next
\ntwo days.<\/p>\n
He warned he would not hesitate to take harsh action to
\ncounter the Assembly's latest move.<\/p>\n
\"I have many followers, such as students, NU (Nahdlatul Ulama)
\nmembers, people in Purwokerto (West Java), Lirboyo (East Java),
\nand 6,000 ulema in Manado and Gorontalo (Sulawesi),\" the
\nPresident noted.<\/p>\n
In the afternoon, Abdurrahman visited Rachmawati
\nSoekarnoputri, Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri's younger
\nsister, at her residence.<\/p>\n
Rachmawati has apparently taken a different stance to her
\nsibling and has been seen as firmly on Abdurrahman's side.<\/p>\n
Later in the afternoon, the President chaired a National
\nAwakening Party (PKB) meeting at Merdeka Palace.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman heads PKB's advisory council.<\/p>\n
One of the main agenda of the meeting was the suspension of
\nMatori Abdul Djalil as party chief and the appointment of foreign
\nminister Alwi Shihab as acting party chief.<\/p>\n
Later in the evening, Abdurrahman again charged that the
\nspecial session was illegal and that he would not heed it as it
\nviolated the 1945 Constitution.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman claimed he had sent an official letter to the
\nAssembly informing it of his decision not to deliver his
\naccountability report.<\/p>\n
\"The submission of my accountability will be a violation of
\nthe 1945 Constitution,\" the President said. (prb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/special-session-is-illegal-says-gus-dur-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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