2nd memorandum still expected

JAKARTA (JP): Although President Abdurrahman Wahid will appear before the House of Representatives (DPR) to reply to the House of Representatives' first memorandum of censure today, the legislature is still likely to proceed with a second memorandum, a move that could lead to impeachment of the embattled president.

The President will give his reply to a House memorandum, issued on Feb. 1, in relation to his alleged role in the misappropriation of Rp 35 billion (US$3.5 million) from the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) and a $2 million donation from the Sultan of Brunei.

Presidential spokesman Wimar Witoelar said on Tuesday that Justice and Human Rights Minister Baharuddin Lopa had been chosen to read the President's response on Wednesday.

"The President will make a short introductory speech and the response will then be read out by Bapak Baharuddin Lopa," Wimar told reporters at Merdeka Palace.

Baharuddin was among several Cabinet members assigned to draft the President's response to the memorandum.

House Speaker Akbar Tandjung called on legislators to listen to the President's response patiently and not to interrupt the plenary session while it is being read.

"Legislators are allowed to comment on the President's speech when factions give their responses in a plenary session on Friday," he said.

Asked about the House's possible reaction to the President's statement, Akbar said the House and the President could make a compromise on power-sharing to settle the memorandum peacefully.

"One alternative solution is that the President focus on his state duties, while the administration is completely handed over to the Vice President," he said.

Almost all House factions have agreed that a second memorandum be issued if the President's response is unsatisfactory.

"Our faction will evaluate the President's response to the first memorandum and any improvement in the government following the issuance of the memorandum," Syamsul Muarif, chairman of the Golkar faction, said.

"We will most likely propose the issuance of a second memorandum if the President just delivers rhetoric in the plenary session and makes no improvement in the government," Syamsul added.

The Indonesian Military (TNI)/Police faction said it would be objective in evaluating the President's response.

"We will make an objective evaluation for the sake of the nation," Maj. Gen. Budi Harsono, chairman of the TNI/Police faction, said.

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) asserted that its faction would support the planned issuance of the second memorandum and the calls for a special session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) to impeach the President, as long as such measures were constitutional.

"Our stance will depend on the President's response to the memorandum. PDI Perjuangan will support the issuance of the second memorandum and even a special session to impeach the President if the response is unsatisfactory," he said, referring to the 1978 MPR decree on special sessions.

"It is also unclear as to whether the Vice President will be present at the plenary session or not," he added.

Proceed

Separately, chairman of the United Development Party (PPP) faction Ali Marwan Hanan said the President's statement will not have any effect at all, as the House will proceed with issuing a second memorandum.

"With or without his reply, we will issue the second memorandum," Ali said.

Meanwhile, noted Muslim scholar Nurcholish Madjid called on the President to step down voluntarily to avoid worsening the political and economic condition.

"It's better for Gus Dur to step down voluntarily to avoid possible impeachment, a constitutional action which will be more tragic than the collapse of previous regimes. It will be very shocking and more tragic if Gus Dur is impeached by the Assembly," he said.

Nurcholish warned that the country's economy would collapse if the President failed to convince the World Bank and the IMF to disburse its delayed US$400 million loan tranche to Indonesia.

Regret

Separately, Minister of Defense Mahfud MD hinted that the President would state that he had never opposed the memorandum, but paid enough attention to it by replying in person.

"And I think that his regret will be expressed in his written response," Mahfud told journalists on Tuesday.

He said that the 16 pages of the President's written statement will explain legal aspects of Abdurrahman's stance and clarify his innocence in the two financial scandals.

A Cabinet source told The Jakarta Post that the President will publicly apologize for what had been happening in the country as a result of the two financial scandals.

"The main aim of the response is for the President to try to shift the onus of proving his alleged role in both cases," the source said. (rms/byg/dja)