Bina Graha prepares for interpellation

JAKARTA (JP): Presidential aides made last minute preparations and adjustments on Wednesday for Presidential Abdurrahman Wahid's interpellation face-off with the House of Representatives on Thursday.

There are conflicting reports that Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri will accompany the President and read his official written response to the plenary session of the 500 member House.

This move may be due to Abdurrahman's vision problem, but it could also dramatically pacify criticism against the President as Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) legislators were prime sponsors of the interpellation motion.

Megawati chairs the party and even instructed party legislators on Tuesday to go easy on the President.

Coordinating Minister for Economy, Finance and Industry Kwik Kian Gie on Wednesday said the President would make a brief opening remark before asking the Vice President to read out his official response on the sacking of two Cabinet ministers in April.

"The President will talk for three to five minutes, then the Vice President will read the speech," Kwik said after attending a weekly Cabinet meeting at Bina Graha presidential office where preparations for the interpellation were discussed at length.

House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung and Minister of Cooperatives Zarkasih Nur confirmed that Megawati would read the official statement.

However, Cabinet Secretary Marsilam Simanjuntak merely said it was still being discussed, conceding that one of Abdurrahman's aides would read the speech.

However, a senior official, who also attended the Wednesday Cabinet meeting, revealed that there was still a debate over the issue, particularly since the President has said he would like to stress in the written reply that the interpellation motion was unconstitutional.

The official, who asked not to be named, said the vice president might refuse to read the written reply if the President is insistent his opinion is included.

Sources said Abdurrahman believes the interpellation is unconstitutional because such a motion was only known during the Indonesian parliamentary system in the 1950s.

By about 1 p.m., after about three-hours of meetings, sources told The Jakarta Post that they still had not been able to convince Abdurrahman to soften his controversial stance over the issue.

"We hope the President will finally agree to drop that statement because such a remark is not only unwise but will also backfire against him," the official said.

The House, in an overwhelming vote, decided to summon the President to personally explain his reasons for firing Laksamana Sukardi as state minister of investment and state enterprises development, and Yusuf Kalla as minister of industry and trade. Laksamana and Yusuf were seen as representing Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and Golkar in the Cabinet.

Out of 500 House members, 332 supported the motion. Members of the National Awakening Party (PKB), which was co-founded by Abdurrahman, were the main objectors while the 34-strong Indonesian Military/Police faction abstained.

In a closed-door meeting with the House shortly after the sacking of Laksamana and Yusuf in April, the President insisted the two ministers were involved in corruption, collusion and nepotism (KKN) practices.

Both Laksamana and Yusuf have categorically denied the allegations and threatened to file lawsuits against the President.

Separately, House Speaker Akbar Tandjung said legislators' reactions on Thursday would depend on the President's response.

"The President's remarks will be discussed through the DPR mechanism, and the result of the discussion will become DPR's official position," said Akbar on the sidelines of a Golkar meeting.

The PDI Perjuangan faction, the largest in the House, maintained that they would remain critical.

"We will still be firm but will not overreact as instructed by Mbak Mega," faction secretary Heri Ahmadi said.

He noted that the interpellation motion was aimed at reminding Abdurrahman of his inconsistent statements over the dismissal of his two economic ministers.

The party's deputy chairman Meliono Suwondo said the faction would consider the problem settled if Abdurrahman apologizes and retracts his allegations of corruption against Laksamana and Yusuf.

"We hope Gus Dur's answer will clear the air and calm political tension," Meliono said.

Outspoken Golkar legislator Ekky Syahrudin urged the President to directly answer questions during the scheduled three hour- session.

According to Ekky, the President must give concrete evidence to prove his allegations.(prb/jun/dja/byg)