Bina Graha prepares for interpellation

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)