Talks should solve nation's problems: Mega<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The deputy secretary-general of the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) said here yesterday
\nthat the party chairperson, Megawati Soekarnoputri, who is also
\nVice President, wanted the talks between political leaders
\nproposed by the President to be about solving the nation's
\nproblems.<\/p>\n
"She will not attend the reconciliation talks proposed by
\nPresident Abdurrahman Wahid if they are only about political
\nbargaining (between the parties), instead of solving the
\npolitical crisis which is the country's main problem," Pramono
\nAnung said on the sidelines of a seminar on politics here.<\/p>\n
Pramono failed to explain if Megawati had briefed him or other
\nparty officials about her stance on the meeting.<\/p>\n
Megawati has so far been tight-lipped about the issue.<\/p>\n
President Abdurrahman Wahid, or Gus Dur as he is familiarly
\nknown, had earlier aired his plan for talks involving himself,
\nMegawati, the Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly
\n(MPR), Amien Rais, and the Speaker of the House of
\nRepresentatives (DPR), Akbar Tandjung.<\/p>\n
In another development, the chairman of the National Awakening
\nParty (PKB) faction in the House, Taufiqurrahman Saleh, expressed
\nhis appreciation for the President's proposal.<\/p>\n
"The main topics they should discuss at the meeting are the
\ncurrent threats to the country's integrity and restoring the
\ncountry's economy," Taufiqurrahman said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, former coordinating minister for political and
\nsecurity affairs Gen. (ret) Wiranto suggested here that more
\nfigures should be invited to the meeting.<\/p>\n
"In the current democratic atmosphere, I think all political
\nleaders who have constituents should be invited to share their
\nopinions," Wiranto said.<\/p>\n
He stressed that in such a difficult situation, every leader
\nshould put the national interest before his group or party
\ninterests during the (planned) discussions.<\/p>\n
Response<\/p>\n
Hamzah Haz, chairman of the United Development Party (PPP),
\nand Yusril Ihza Mahendra, chairman of the Crescent Star Party
\n(PBB), said separately on Monday that the President's call for
\nreconciliation would not receive a positive response from the
\nmajor factions in the House as they no longer had confidence in
\nthe government.<\/p>\n
"It would be better for the President to step down voluntarily
\nthan to call for reconciliation," Hamzah said after attending the
\nopening ceremony of the Indonesian Youth Committee's national
\ncongress here on Monday.<\/p>\n
He was of the opinion that a solution to the conflict between
\nthe President and the House was not in the hands of the four
\nleaders, but rather in the hands of the main House factions.<\/p>\n
"Gus Dur's fate will be decided by the main factions in the
\nHouse and a second memorandum of censure will likely be issued
\nbecause of the President's disappointing reply to the first
\nmemorandum," he said.<\/p>\n
Yusril concurred and said a second censure of the President
\nwas inevitable as he had failed to make the necessary
\ncorrections.<\/p>\n
Akbar said in Salatiga, Central Java on Sunday that both
\nHamzah and Yusril must be invited in the meeting. "They both lead
\npolitical parties with a huge number of supporters."<\/p>\n
Minister of Defense Mahfud MD said that the attempt at
\ncompromise was an effort to avoid conflict at the grassroots
\nlevel.<\/p>\n
"It is wrong to reject compromise," Mahfud said on the
\nsidelines of the Air Force's 55th anniversary celebrations at
\nHalim Perdanakusuma air base in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Mahfud suggested that the four leaders hold a limited
\npreliminary meeting to formulate the agenda.<\/p>\n
When asked whether the government would act resolutely against
\nthe President's supporters who had been undergoing training in
\npreparation for a Jihad (Muslim holy war) in defense of
\nAbdurrahman, Mahfud said that "there will be no sanctions as long
\nthey don't engage in violence."<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a political observer said in Yogyakarta on Monday
\nthat it was too late for Gus Dur to initiate such a meeting.<\/p>\n
Ichlasul Amal, who is rector of the Gadjah Mada University,
\nbelieved that the meeting would not be fruitful.<\/p>\n
"The nation's problems cannot be solved by these four figures
\nalone," said Amal.<\/p>\n
"Furthermore, the meeting will not boost Gus Dur's legitimacy,
\nand will not let him of the hook as regards the second memorandum
\n(of censure)," he said. "I also doubt whether the proposed
\nmeeting will cool down the tension at the grassroots level."<\/p>\n
According to Amal, the nub of the current political impasse
\nwas the fact that President Abdurrahman had been gradually losing
\nlegitimacy.<\/p>\n
"The point is, those opposing the President won't accept
\nanything he (the President) does," said Amal. (dja\/02\/rms\/23\/sur)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/talks-should-solve-nations-problems-mega-1447893297",
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