Wiranto expects violence during MPR General Session<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Defense and Security\/Indonesian
\nMilitary (TNI) Commander Gen. Wiranto warned on Thursday the
\nprolonged disputes among the political elite would be a potential
\nsource of violence at the General Session of the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR).<\/p>\n
\"Many media have made various predictions about the session,
\nbut for me it is obvious that political factors will incite
\nviolence,\" Gen. Wiranto said in his address to seminar
\nattendants.<\/p>\n
He appealed to all political parties and political groups not
\nto fish in murky water by deploying their masses if the MPR
\nsession fails to reach compromises in crucial issues.<\/p>\n
Gen. Wiranto instead told the party leaders to settle their
\ndispute before the session began.<\/p>\n
\"Please respect the session as it serves as the highest forum
\nto deliberate the nation's fate. It's not a soccer match where we
\ncan involve many supporters,\" Wiranto said.<\/p>\n
Maj. Gen. Sudi Silalahi echoed Gen. Wiranto's statement and
\njokingly referred his remark to the deputy chairman of the youth
\norganization (Pemuda Pancasila) Yorris Raweyai, leader of Islamic
\ngroup Furkon H.A. Nazri Adlani and deputy chairman of the Jakarta
\nchapter of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
\nPerjuangan) Jacob Nuwa Wea, who were present at the seminar.<\/p>\n
\"If these three commanders can control their masses during the
\nMPR session, I can imagine how peaceful the event will be,\" Sudi
\ntold seminar participants.<\/p>\n
Many have speculated that the MPR session will meet with
\nobstacles due to the unsettled conflicts among the political
\nelite, while security in some parts of the country is far from
\nbeing conducive.<\/p>\n
The first part of the session is scheduled to begin from Oct.
\n1 to Oct. 3 and will resume for the second part on Nov. 1 to Nov.
\n10.<\/p>\n
Calls have mounted to postpone or to move forward the national
\nagenda.<\/p>\n
Minister of Home Affairs Syarwan Hamid reiterated that there
\nwas no need to reschedule the date of the session.<\/p>\n
\"There is no urgency for that. We will stick to the schedule,\"
\nSyarwan told Antara.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the General Election Commission (KPU), Rudini,
\nalso said his commission rushed tasks to finalize the result of
\nthe June 7 poll in order to meet the schedule of the session.<\/p>\n
Many have criticized the sluggish work of the commission and
\nspeculated on their intention to delay the session.<\/p>\n
\"We have no intention to postpone the MPR session. We're
\nconfident that we can complete our work before it begins,\" Rudini
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
On the contrary, Zarkasih Nur of the United Development Party
\n(PPP) said the session should be moved forward to end the present
\npolitical uncertainty, which he said resulted from President B.J.
\nHabibie's troubled government.<\/p>\n
\"The earlier date will eliminate uncertainty in all aspects
\nand prevent people from falling victim. The government has lost
\nthe people's trust,\" he told the seminar.<\/p>\n
Political observer Eep Syaifulloh Fatah offered a compromise
\nand said the session could take place as planned but the priority
\nof its agenda should be rearranged.<\/p>\n
He said the top priority was to appoint the new president to
\nreplace Habibie, who, he said \"has failed to rule the country\".<\/p>\n
In Yogyakarta, law expert Muchsan opposed an earlier date and
\nsaid Indonesians were not prepared for an early session.<\/p>\n
\"It's wrong to think an earlier session will be beneficial for
\nus. Political parties, KPU and all components of the nation are
\nnot ready,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said the agenda was important for the country to determine
\nthe fate of the reform process and therefore it should not be
\nhastily prepared.<\/p>\n
Another law expert, Moh. Mahfud from the Indonesia Islamic
\nUniversity, said the planned date of the session was realistic
\nand the right time. He said to delay the session would be risky
\nas it would fuel a chaotic situation.<\/p>\n
\"Waves of protests will mount as people are anxious to hear
\nHabibie's accountability speech in the session,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Mahfud also said an early session was feared to bring about
\npremature preparations which later could result in an
\nunsatisfying outcome. (swa\/44\/33\/emf)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/wiranto-expects-violence-during-mpr-general-session-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}