2nd memorandum inevitable: Major factions

2nd memorandum inevitable: Major factions

JAKARTA (JP): With the schedule for the issuance of a second
memorandum of censure just a fortnight away, major factions at
the House of Representatives insisted over the weekend that
nothing now could stop them from issuing the second memorandum
against President Abdurrahman Wahid.

House Deputy Speaker Tosari Wijaya of the United Development
Party (PPP) maintained that the second memorandum was inevitable
since Abdurrahman had not improved his performance as President.

"The only thing that could stop the second memorandum would be
if Abdurrahman all of a sudden adopted a remarkably different
approach and carried out his duties earnestly," Tosari told
journalists in Semarang, Central Java, on Saturday.

He further brushed off the possibility that a mass
mobilization of Abdurrahman's die-hard supporters to Jakarta
could possibly sway the view of the House.

"If there is strong mob pressure to stop the issuance of the
second memorandum, the police should help, as security officers
should deal with anarchic action by the people," Tosari remarked.

A senior legislator from the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) also indicated that the largest faction
in the House would support the issuance of the second memorandum.

"So far, we will likely support issuing the second memorandum
because we still see many negative points from the President's
actions, especially concerning the fight against corruption and
the violation of the presidential oath," Jacob Tobing told The
Jakarta Post.

Jacob, who is also one of the eight members of the party to
assess Abdurrahman's written reply to the first memorandum,
further said that there had been no significant improvement from
the President concerning these issues.

"We will continue to adhere to the constitutional process,
despite continuing informal meetings with the National Awakening
Party, as we are committed to keeping the relationship between
the two parties on a good standing," Jacob added.

According to the House's internal rules, once the second
memorandum is issued the President will have another month to
respond to it.

After that the House can propose the People's Consultative
Assembly hold a special session which has the power to impeach
him.

However it would take another two months before the Assembly
could convene one.

An Assembly ad hoc committee is also weighing and anticipating
the possibility of accelerating the process further to about two
weeks.

"Currently, we are anticipating the need to foreshorten the
two-months...but we have yet to determine whether it is possible
to do so," committee chairman Rambe Kamarrul Zaman said on
Sunday.

Another legislator from PPP Husni Tamrin said, with the
country's current myriad problems it would be impossible to solve
them in a short time, even if Vice President Megawati
Soekarnoputri were to take over from Abdurrahman.

"Not just Megawati, whoever became the President would not
have the ability to solve the country's complex problems in such
a short time," Husni said as quoted by Antara on Saturday.

Separately, the National Police plans to conduct a sweep of
incoming people to the capital ahead of the House plenary session
on April 30 on the memorandum process.

"We will conduct searches at all disembarkation points for
sharp weapons and firearms...but we will not use force to conduct
the searches," the National Police spokesman Brig.Gen. Didi
Widayadi said in Bandung, West Java, on Sunday.

Didi said that the searches would be conducted with the
agreement of the Nadhatul Ulama Muslim organization, which will
hold a mass prayer in the capital on April 29. (dja/har/25)