A desperate Wahid is cause for concern

A desperate Wahid is cause for concern

Today is judgment day for embattled Indonesian President
Abdurrahman Wahid. For it is today that a special parliamentary
committee investigating two financial scandals involving him will
report to parliament. Early indications are that the 50-member
committee will rule that there is sufficient evidence to
implicate the president in corruption.

Last week, during hearings by the investigation committee, Mr
Wahid walked out in protest saying the panel's activities were
unconstitutional and that his character was being undermined.

Yesterday, Mr Wahid was in a threatening mood, warning that
possibly hundreds of thousands of his supporters were being
rallied from throughout the archipelago to come and demonstrate
in his favor in front of parliament house today.

In just 15 months in power, Mr Wahid is beginning to show his
true colors. His dictatorial attitude in staging a walk-out and
now gathering civilians in a show of strength at parliament is
tantamount to what could be expected from former president and
dictator Soeharto.

Today, parliament will consider the report from the
investigation panel behind closed doors. Parliament is due on
Thursday to announce if Mr Wahid has abused his power. If the
members think he has, parliament has the power to impeach him,
but the process is long, complicated and unlikely.

If Mr Wahid is not guilty of any wrongdoing, which he claims,
he had the opportunity to curtail this whole process last week at
a hearing. He chose not to.

His decision to summon thousands of his supporters to
parliament today in a threatening show of support and
intimidation, can be interpreted as an act of a desperate man.

And Indonesia does not need another desperate man at its helm.

-- The Bangkok Post