Akbar calls for political deal

JAKARTA (JP): With political rivals deadlocked over the proposition of impeaching President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung urged his colleagues to seek a compromise by outlining a more vivid power- sharing scheme between the President and Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

"The sharing of power between the President and Vice President is a plausible compromise to end the political deadlock between the House and the President," Akbar said after a meeting of the Golkar Party faction here on Thursday.

Akbar, who is also Golkar's chairman, noted that with the escalation of controversy surrounding the Bulog and Brunei scandals "most factions want the President to step down, while Gus Dur pleads his innocence."

He suggested that, under such a compromise, pending Abdurrahman's agreement, the President would only handle state affairs, while the Vice President acquire full authority in tackling administrative affairs.

"I have no other alternative solutions should the President turn down such a compromise," he remarked, while confidently suggesting that such an arrangement would be acceptable to most House factions, including Golkar.

Any suggestions of a People's Consultative Assembly special session, according to Akbar, should not concentrate on impeachment, but on hammering out a decree to structure the power-sharing arrangement.

Abdurrahman issued a presidential decree last year delegating the daily running of government to Megawati, however this arrangement has been ambiguous and unsatisfactory according to legislators.

Calls for an Assembly special session have increased following an unfavorable reaction to the President's response on Wednesday to the first House memorandum of censure.

Akbar said an Assembly decree outlining the compromise could be proposed during the Assembly's annual session in August.

He added that most House factions are already preparing for the issuance of a second memorandum, advancing the possibility of a special session and impeachment proceedings.

Unfit

Akbar further revealed that the House leadership would receive a medical team on Monday to hear their report on the President's health condition.

"We have received a letter from the four-member presidential medical team recently," he said.

Copies of a letter from the medical team, which was circulated at the House, suggest that, from a medical perspective, Abdurrahman is no longer fit to carry out his presidential duties.

The team consists of neurologist Soeharko Kasran, oculist Rahman R. Saman, physician Hadiwitarto and psychiatrist Suryanto.

While Akbar was preaching compromise, Assembly speaker Amien Rais remained defiant, rebuffing any suggestion of a political concession.

"Any form of political compromise would only prolong the problem and add to the uncertainty," Amien told journalists.

Assembly deputy chairman Matori Abdul Djalil, a loyal supporter of the President, hailed a possible compromise.

"A compromise should start with a willingness to sit together and discuss the problems. Afterwards, all elites can decide what kind of compromise (should be adopted)," Matori said.

Minister of Defense Mahfud M.D. also suggested on Thursday a political compromise between the President and legislature.

"My proposal is that the President sit down with the political elite for talks, determining a platform on which the country will be led," he remarked.

Meanwhile in Makassar, South Sulawesi, political communications expert Hasrullah of Hasanuddin University said that, whatever reply the President could have given on Wednesday would have been hard to accept by legislators.

"The House would not believe him," Hasrullah said.

"I am of the opinion that the House and the President will find it hard to reconcile. The minds of legislators are already filled with suspicion, prejudice and negative thoughts," he told The Jakarta Post.

"From a political communications point of view the President's apology should be translated as a gesture from the President to seek reconciliation with the House."

Meanwhile, cultural and political observer Mohammad Sobary here on Wednesday urged political elites to stop their rivalry.

"Both Abdurrahman Wahid and Amien Rais as well as other political elites are trapped in a political play, forgetting about the people's interests.

"They've gone too far...and are engaged in these political maneuvers only to maintain power," Sobary said.

He called for a "return" to their respective roles and help bridge the communication gap between them.

"Let Abdurrahman lead until 2004, finish his term and then we can choose our future leader. As for Megawati, I think she is ready in a way that she always sticks to the concept of national unity and integration. She is sometimes naive but basically I believe that she can rule well," he added. (02/27/sur/edt/rms/dja)