Assembly leaves special session decision to House

JAKARTA (JP): The People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) on Tuesday passed the ball back to the House of Representatives (DPR) with regard to the possibility of expediting a Special Session of the Assembly, citing that "the MPR cannot take the initiative based upon inadequate legal grounds."

"Though this nation is facing crucial problems and critical moments in almost all areas, a Special Session cannot be brought forward as we still have not found the grounds for doing so," Assembly Speaker Amien Rais said as quoted by Antara after a meeting of the Assembly leadership that was held in the absence of MPR deputy speaker Ginandjar Kartasasmita.

"I understand that the students who are demanding a Special Session will be disappointed ... but since we are sticking to the memorandum of censure process, which is a matter for the House, we have to be patient.

"This will create political, social and economic uncertainty as the process is quite long. We have to wait for the issuing of the second memorandum of censure before we can talk about a Special Session," he added.

He said the Assembly leadership meeting discussed three topics, namely the memorandum, the Special Session and the demands for President Abdurrahman Wahid to resign.

"But we can forget about the last option as there's no sign of Gus Dur resigning," Amien said, referring to Abdurrahman by his nickname.

Separately, the Nov. 11, 2000 Caucus, a forum of legislators from all factions except for the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the Indonesian Military/Police, asked the Assembly to quickly hold a Special Session to replace the nation's leader.

"A Special Session is the best option for saving the nation. The various disturbances such as the latest in Sampit and Palangkaraya (in Central Kalimantan) are signs of the country breaking apart," forum spokesman Kwik Kian Gie of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) told a media briefing on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, political observer Siswono Yudohusodo said on Tuesday that Abdurrahman's "poor performance and lack of a sense of crisis" had resulted in a counterproductive administration.

"He brought these problems on himself. I feel pity for him.

"And those who elected him as President in October 1999 must be held responsible. But I see no other way to get out of this crisis except for him to resign gracefully and for (Vice President) Megawati Soekarnoputri to step in and rule until 2004," Siswono told the media after a discussion held by the Indonesian Muslim Students' Alumni Association (KAHMI) here.

On Tuesday, the PKB launched a campaign demanding that Amien Rais act properly in accordance with his office. Otherwise, according to the PKB, he should resign.

"We demand that Amien Rais as Assembly Speaker act constitutionally and stop behaving like a provocateur," PKB secretary-general Muhaimin Iskandar told the media, while accusing Amien of being behind the students' anti-Gus Dur protests.

Also in Jakarta, Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Tuesday that the government would not rush to impose a state of emergency in the capital.

"A state of emergency will only be declared if the government is no longer able to govern," Susilo told a media conference.

"What happened in Jakarta yesterday (Monday) doesn't reflect the real situation in Indonesia. Therefore, it is unnecessary to declare a state of emergency," Susilo said referring to Monday's massive rally organized by the Students' Executive Boards (BEMs) at the Merdeka Palace compound.

In response to the students' demand that the holding of a Special Session be brought forward, Susilo said it was not his job to comment on the matter.

Similarly, Indonesian Military (TNI) spokesman Rear Marshall Graito Usodo said that TNI headquarters was content to let the existing constitutional mechanisms run their course.

Graito dismissed claims that several regions in Indonesia would demand independence if President Abdurrahman were to resign.

"No, I haven't heard any such demands (for independence)," Graito told a media conference at TNI headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta.

Meanwhile, deputy secretary general of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Muslim organization Masduki Baidlawi said the President's statement that some regions would declare independence if he were to resign should not be misinterpreted as promoting separatism.

"Gus Dur is a figure who unequivocally supports the nation's integrity.

"The statement was merely designed to show people that he still has many supporters," Masduki told The Jakarta Post by phone. (edt/02)