Abdurrahman deserves censure, says his brother

Abdurrahman deserves censure, says his brother

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid's brother Salahuddin
Wahid remarked here on Tuesday that his sibling deserved the
censure against him, hoping it would galvanize Abdurrahman's
performance and compel him to cooperate with other political
parties.

Salahuddin told The Jakarta Post that his brother needed to be
warned about many of the things he had done, but such a warning
should not be geared towards toppling him from the presidency.

"Gus Dur deserves the censure as it gives him a strong warning
to change many things ... and I still believe that if he can show
more willingness to compromise with the House he could survive,"
Salahuddin said, referring to Abdurrahman by his nickname.

He further noted that Abdurrahman, in the one month period he
has to answer the House of Representatives second memorandum of
censure, must also realize his expressed willingness to work with
the Vice President and resolve economic matters.

"I am sure that if he's willing to make compromises with the
House, stop making controversial statements and concentrate more
on his duties," Salahuddin remarked, "he still has a chance to
survive the special session."

He underlined that compromise would be the best way to end the
political impasse between the President and the House.

Salahuddin nevertheless said it was also necessary for the
House to specify in what way the President should make
corrections and which aspects of the administration need
improvement.

"The House never mentions these aspects clearly. What kind of
action has the President taken in violation of the presidential
oath or the People's Consultative Assembly decree?" Salahuddin
asked.

The House issued on Monday the second memorandum against the
President.

Should the House be unsatisfied with the reply given by the
President, legislators can call for a special session of the
Assembly which could then convene impeachment hearings.

The first memorandum was issued on the basis of the findings
of a House probe which alleged that Abdurrahman may have been
involved in two financial scandals.

However, in the plenary session on the second censure on
Monday, most House factions highlighted their dissatisfaction
with Abdurrahman's administration, highlighting its economic
failures and the growing destabilization across the country.

Meanwhile, political observer Ichlasul Amal in Yogyakarta also
said that Abdurrahman still has hopes of retaining his seat as
long as he can persuade his political foes that he is truly
willing to compromise.

Ichlasul asserted that the President's future hangs in the
balance and the next 30 days could be crucial, as the House could
be swayed either way.

"It depends on the House, its stance could soften in a single
month," he said.

"There are many people in the House, I just don't know if they
already perceive the special Assembly session as one package with
this second censure," he remarked.

Despite showing a ray of hope for the President, Ichlasul
repeated his call for Abdurrahman to resign as the issuance of
the second memorandum is a clear vote of no confidence,
indicating that he has lost his political legitimacy.

"Two censures from the House should be enough for him (the
President) to draw the conclusion that he must resign," he told
reporters.

Meanwhile, back in Jakarta, Muhammadiyah Deputy Chairman Din
Syamsuddin was more glum, saying it was too late for the
President to make a political compromise.

"It's too late," Din remarked.

Nevertheless Din said if changes were called for "the most
important thing for him to do now is to change the management
among his inner circle at the Palace and the Cabinet, instead of
offering political compromises," Din told the Post.

"If the President stops making controversial statements and
tries his best to assure the House of his good intentions then
maybe he might still have a chance. But it all depends on him,"
Din remarked. (dja/44)