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