Amien vows to tone down criticism against govt

DENPASAR, Bali (JP): Amien Rais, famous for his argumentative tendencies, has pledged to tone down his criticism of the government and remain quiet for a year after the August general session of the People's Consultative Assembly.

"I will shut up after the annual Assembly in August and it will last until the next assembly in August 2001," Amien said, after a meeting with the Bali Travel Mart event organizer in Bali Tropik Hotel, Tanjung Benoa, on Monday.

In an apparent reaction to critics who say that he talks too much, Assembly Speaker Amien Rais said he would no longer criticize President Abdurrahman Wahid.

During the Assembly session in 2001, Amien said he would thoroughly evaluate the President's work.

Amien is currently under fire for his support for the establishment of an independent medical team to check Abdurrahman's health.

National Awakening Party (PKB) legislators have lashed back at the proposal saying that Amien Rais himself should also undergo a checkup.

The President said last week that he has received assurances from political leaders, including from Amien, that the Assembly session would not impeach him.

Amien, however warned on Monday that his silence would be perceived as a blank cheque for the President to do as he wishes.

He added that he would take tough measures if the President fails to fulfill his commitments.

"If he is given another chance, who knows if there will be a miracle. If the President can fulfill his obligation, Alhamdulillah (Thank God). But if he fails we have to find another solution," said Amien.

But before silencing himself, Amien took the opportunity on Monday to bemoan people's immaturity and unpreparedness to face the practices of democracy saying that many could not accept differing views such as the ones stated by himself.

"Many people think that it just causes political instability when the elites are busy attacking each other," Amien said.

Amien said the President himself often misunderstands these criticisms and erroneously considers them as an effort to topple him.

Amien stressed that his criticism was merely to encourage the President to cease controversial statements and refrain from commenting on matters which he does not fully understand.

"Don't sleep during a Cabinet meeting!" Amien advised the President.(zen/edt)