Abdurrahman's last effort at compromise gets cool reaction

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)