Attempts emerge to unseat Mega

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.