Attempts emerge to unseat Mega

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Riding the momentum initiated by mounting antigovernment protests, several individuals representing different groups have become united in their efforts to unseat President Megawati Soekarnoputri and Vice President Hamzah Haz.

A detailed plan to unseat Megawati and Hamzah was discussed during a meeting hosted by Bung Karno Nationalist Party (PNBK) chairman Eros Jarot in Jakarta on Friday.

Various elements in society, such as student organizations, labor unions, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), legislators and individuals, attended the meeting.

Eros said on Saturday that the meeting had in principle agreed to set up a national presidium to replace Megawati and Hamzah and run the country.

"We have a common view that the Megawati-Hamzah administration can no longer be maintained. It is only a matter of how (to unseat the government)," Eros told The Jakarta Post.

His words confirm an earlier statement by Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who said that there were some movements trying to topple the government.

Among those attending Friday's meeting at PNBK's office, according to a source, were Teten Masduki from the Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW), Andi William Sinaga from the Indonesian Prosperity Trade Union (SBSI) and representatives from a number of organizations, such as Kosgoro, the Social Democratic Labor Party, the Student Executive Body and the City Forum (Forkot).

Several influential legislators were also present, including Meilono Suwondo from Megawati's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), Alvin Lee from the National Mandate Party (PAN) and Julius Usman from the Golkar Party.

Eros, a former close aide of Megawati's and a former executive of PDI Perjuangan, said that he and other people in the group were discussing ways to topple Megawati and then establish a presidium.

Eros, however, refused to disclose who would sit on the committee.

One source told the Post that People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Amien Rais and former president Abdurrahman Wahid were among those who had been invited to join the proposed presidium.

Abdurrahman confirmed on Thursday that he was invited to sit on the committee. He refused to mention the persons or groups that had invited him.

Initial speculation also hinted at Gen. (ret) Wiranto, former Indonesian Military commander and chief security minister, following a number of meetings between Wiranto and Abdurrahman.

Abdurrahman admitted that he had met Wiranto and also Amien on separate occasions recently. But he denied that they had discussed the issue of the proposed presidium.

The movement to unseat Megawati and Hamzah comes at a time when a series of mass antigovernment rallies have hit the country following the simultaneous utility price hikes earlier this month.

Eros, however, denied that his group was using the demonstrations to the movement's benefit.

Nevertheless, the chairman of the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo), Djimanto, noticed that a certain group had tried to use the movement against the price hikes for its own political interest.

Although Djimanto said that his organization was still free from political influence, representatives of Apindo and labor organizations would meet with Amien on Monday.

Eros said that he and his friends realized that taking drastic measures, such as unseating Megawati and Hamzah, could have repercussions that further burden people.

"We will still go ahead, based on our calculations. The cost of changing the leadership is equal to the cost of doing nothing, and allowing corruption, collusion and nepotism to continue.

"It's like dealing with cancer. It's better that it is cut out, otherwise the disease will spread," he said.

He noted that disappointment and frustration with the current government not only affected students and activists but had spread into all levels of society.

"If we keep our ears open, you will hear people in coffee shops, markets and offices talking about the government's failures and they are saying that their lives have become worse," he added.