Assembly session 'not to topple President'

Assembly session 'not to topple President'

JAKARTA (JP): The Islamic-based Justice Party (PK) celebrated its
second anniversary on Sunday with a call on the nation to create
a conducive atmosphere for the general session of the People's
Consultative Assembly in August.

"The session is not an agenda to topple the President. It's an
agenda to listen to his progress report," the party's chairman
Hidayat Nurwahid told reporters on the sidelines of the event
held at the Senayan Stadium in Central Jakarta.

At least 25,000 party supporters attended the celebration,
which also saw the party's new executives sworn in.

Hidayat urged all political parties to renew their commitment
to the reform agenda, the supremacy of law and national
integrity.

He warned political groups against diverting the main agenda
of the Assembly session onto other issues for their own
interests.

"Do not spoil the session's agenda which has already been
determined," he remarked.

Hidayat said Abdurrahman's government is now under pressure
after the House of Representatives voted for an interpellation
petition to question the President over his controversial
policies.

The interpellation motion, as well as the general session,
could be an appropriate forum to silence all of those who are
against him, according to Hidayat.

"But it's all up to Gus Dur. He just needs to answer it
professionally and the problem will be over," he said in
reference to the President.

Hidayat asked Gus Dur not to respond to the interpellation
petition emotionally, saying the House has the right to control
the government.

Hidayat was elected the Justice Party chairman in May after
former chief Nurmahmudi Nur Ismail relinquished his post and quit
the party.

The party, which was established on July 20 in 1998, won 1.2
percent of the popular votes in last year's general session for
seven seats in the House. It formed the Reform Faction at the
House along with the National Mandate Party (PAN).

Under Hidayat, the party will have to struggle for a change in
the election law, which was enacted last year, in order to
qualify for the 2004 polls. The law stipulates that a party must
win at least 2 percent of the votes to contest the next poll.
(jun)