Axis Force to retaliate against external threats

Axis Force to retaliate against external threats

JAKARTA (JP): The "axis force", a loose coalition of political
parties led by Amien Rais, warned it would retaliate against
attempts to undermine its strength.

Amien, the chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN) and
the speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly, expressed his
disappointment on Thursday that Hamzah Haz's replacement as
coordinating minister for people's welfare and poverty
eradication was not a United Development Party (PPP) member.

Hamzah is the chairman of PPP, while his replacement, the
little-known Basri Hasanuddin, is a former university rector and
member of the Assembly.

"The axis force is disappointed with Hamzah Haz's replacement,
who is not from PPP," Amien said.

Amien said PPP was the largest member of the axis force, whose
support was pivotal in Abdurrahman Wahid's defeat of Megawati
Soekarnoputri in the presidential election.

Abdurrahman, better known as Gus Dur, announced last week he
had accepted the resignation of Hamzah. However, the resignation
has been surrounded by controversy, with some PPP officials
claiming their chairman was "dismissed".

These officials say Hamzah never formally submitted his
resignation to Abdurrahman, who claimed that Hamzah was stepping
down to focus more attention on his duties as PPP chairman.

Speaking to journalists after meeting with several foreign
ambassadors here on Thursday, Amien conceded that Hamzah was not
dismissed but had resigned.

"It's only that the way he was replaced was not prudent,
especially because his replacement was not from PPP.

"It should have been someone from PPP, which makes up the
largest segment of the axis force, which elected Gus Dur," Amien
said.

Amien agreed PPP had the right to be disappointed with the
President over the affair.

He said the axis force, which comprises PAN and several
Islamic-based parties, expressed its discontent with the
President through Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi Shihab.

"I, as someone who actively forged the axis force, believe the
stability of the government will depend on the direction the
President will now take," Amien said.

While asserting that he did not believe Abdurrahman was
intentionally distancing himself from the axis force, Amien did
hint at attempts to undermine the political grouping.

Amien warned the axis force could mount a counteroffensive,
without identifying those behind the alleged attempts to weaken
the grouping.

"Don't forget that the axis force is very strong. Because of
that, if there are those who want to enfeeble us we will hit
back. We will retaliate," he asserted.

Without going into detail, PPP official Husni Thamrin also
alleged that there was a movement to cripple the axis force,
beginning with PPP.

"But I warn you, don't start throwing punches because the axis
force can throw one back," he said.

PPP deputy chairman Tosari Wijaya also claimed there was "a
grand conspiracy" aimed at destroying the axis force. He said
this conspiracy included rumors of corruption such as had swirled
around Hamzah and Minister of Law and Legislation Yusril Ihza
Mahendra, who heads the Crescent Star Party.

Tosari said a recent call by legislators from the Indonesian
Democratic of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) to censure Amien Rais
over his support of federalism also was part of the
conspiracy.

Outside Jakarta, PPP officials were also up in arms about the
whole affair.

"We want President Abdurrahman to legally clarify Hamzah's
resignation, whether it is true or not that he is involved in
corruption," Mudrick M. Sangidoe, a PPP chairman from the
Surakarta chapter, Cental Java, said on Thursday.

The central board of PPP is slated to hold a two-day
leadership meeting on Sunday and demand the President to clear up
the matter.

"The President quickly officially clarified Yusril Ihza
Mahendra saying that he was innocent following similar rumors.
Why does he not do the same for Hamzah?"

"Instead of doing that the President replaces him. What's
going on?" Mudrick charged.

PPP's Central Java chairman M. Toyfoer separately expressed
disappointment that a non-PPP cadre was handed Hamzah's post.
(jun/har/edt)