Abdurrahman's last effort at compromise gets cool reaction

JAKARTA (JP): There was but a cool reaction as President Abdurrahman Wahid made a last ditch on Thursday effort to call a meeting of political party leaders in a bid to seek a compromise.

The key to the gathering would be the presence of Vice President and Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri who remained noncommittal about the meeting which has been proposed for Saturday at Bogor Palace.

Megawati is already scheduled to leave for Singapore on Friday for a medical check-up, at the end of her official visit to East Kalimantan and thus there has been no confirmation of her attendance.

This is the second time in the past three months she has gone for a medical check-up on the island state. No explanation was given on the upcoming medical.

PDI Perjuangan deputy secretary-general Pramono Anung said she has so far given no signal or comment about the proposed meeting.

"We haven't received any invitation, but so far Ibu Megawati hasn't signaled her intent about the meeting and only she can decide whether she wants to attend," Pramono told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

"I cannot tell you whether she is going to come or not because she hasn't said anything," he added.

President Abdurrahman is in a desperate race to save his presidency with the People's Consultative Assembly due to convene a special session on Aug. 1 to seek his accountability.

If during the session his accountability is rejected, Megawati would become his successor.

Presidential spokesman Yahya Staquf disclosed Abdurrahman's latest offer on Thursday afternoon without saying if any party leaders had confirmed their attendance.

"We are still contacting them. I think we will know at the appropriate time who will attend," Yahya said.

This is the second time Abdurrahman has attempted a meeting of party leaders to seek a compromise. The previous attempt failed with Megawati refusing to attend.

Many have pointed out the key role of Megawati and Golkar Party chairman Akbar Tandjung in any political gathering.

Between them the two parties hold 367 seats in the 700 member Assembly.

Akbar on Thursday while indicating that he would be willing to attend, stressed that Megawati's presence was crucial if the meeting was to be of any significance.

"The President should approach Ibu Mega personally," Akbar remarked. "It will be more significant with the presence of PDI Perjuangan."

He suggested that given the Vice President's prior schedule it may be wise to reschedule for a more convenient time.

But Abdurrahman's planned meeting may already be upstaged by a later meeting of party leaders hosted by PDI Perjuangan about a fortnight from now which quickly received a warm response.

Meanwhile United Development Party (PPP) secretary-general Alimarwan Hanan hinted on the possibility of party chairman Hamzah Haz attending Saturday's meeting.

"If two warring countries can hold dialogs, why can't we do so between politicians. It doesn't matter what the result may be, the point is we meet," Alimarwan told the Post.

But National Mandate Party chairman Amien Rais was in no mood to entertain Abdurrahman saying that as the Assembly speaker it would be highly inappropriate for him to attend a meeting and then later chair the special session which is expected to impeach the President.

Party secretary-general Hatta Radjasa also said that "if there is any meeting it should be after the special session."

In a related development, the government on Thursday finally approved the disbursement of some Rp 20 billion (about US$1.79 million) from the state budget to finance the special session following complaints from legislators of funding problems.

"The funding for the special session has been approved, the director general for state budget will follow up on it," Minister of Finance Rizal Ramli said on Thursday on the sidelines of a hearing with the House of Representatives' Commission IX, which oversees financial affairs.

Rizal dismissed speculation that the government had been reluctant to disburse the funds.

"Don't use conspiracy theories on me, let's act like adults," he said.

The government has also allocated Rp 21 billion from the state budget for the Assembly annual session, the date of which remains uncertain. (dja/prb/bkm)