Cabinet remains solid, palace spokesman says

Cabinet remains solid, palace spokesman says

JAKARTA (JP): Presidential spokesman Wimar Witoelar asserted
on Thursday that the Cabinet remained sound despite reports of
widening political differences between President Abdurrahman
Wahid and Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Wimar played down the President's decision to leave a three-
hour Cabinet meeting held on Thursday morning after only having
attended it for one hour, as well as the absence of key Cabinet
member, Coordinating Minister for Social, Political and Security
Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Palace officials explained that Susilo was absent because he
attended a seminar organized by the National Resilience Institute
(Lemhannas).

Wimar revealed that the President had to leave the meeting
because he had another important meeting at his official
residence, Merdeka Palace.

Revealing that he was asked by the President to make the
statement, Wimar also said that the Cabinet members continued
their discussion under Megawati's leadership.

"The ministers worked diligently under the Vice President's
competent leadership," Wimar said.

Using a golf cart, State Secretary Djohan Effendi left Bina
Graha presidential office not long after the President's
departure. State Minister for Research and Technology Muhammad
A.S. Hikam rushed to his car although most journalists were
unaware of his departure.

While most Cabinet members were reluctant to talk to
journalists, Minister of Agriculture Bungaran Saragih remained
congenial.

"We had a very serious meeting," Bungaran said.

As usual, Megawati only smiled and left the presidential
office speechless.

Compared to the security arrangements for Abdurrahman,
security officers and protocol officials appeared to be busier
when preparing for Megawati's arrival and departure.

The relationship between Abdurrahman and Megawati has
reportedly worsened after her Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) supported the second memorandum of
censure against the President and took the initiative of planning
a meeting between seven political parties. It has been suggested
that the group may discuss possible moves to impeach the
President.

Meanwhile, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) chairman Hasyim Muzadi
reiterated that the country's largest Muslim organization was
fully behind the beleaguered President, who is Hasyim's
predecessor.

Hasyim said he was also scheduled to meet with about 600 NU
kyais in Sidoarjo, East Java, later in the day to discuss the
latest political developments.

He denied earlier reports that some NU senior ulemas had asked
Abdurrahman to relinquish the presidency and blamed the media for
misquoting the religious leaders.

"There are reports saying that some NU kyais are already
prepared for Gus Dur to resign. However, all of those reports are
incorrect," Hasyim said.

Abdul Hamid Baidlowi, the head of a pesantren (Islamic
boarding school) in Rembang, Central Java, was reported as saying
that it would be better if the President resigned immediately
because he would not be able to improve the performance of his
administration, as demanded by the House of Representatives.

The ulema also criticized the President for his reluctance in
heeding advice.

Hasyim also denied reports that Fuad Hasyim, the head of
Pondok Buntet Islamic boarding school in Cirebon, West Java, and
influential cleric Abdullah Faqih of Langitan Islamic boarding
school in Tuban, East Java, had approved of Abdurrahman's early
resignation.

"Both Pak Faqih and Pak Fuad have confirmed with me that they
have never been interviewed about Gus Dur's resignation," Hasyim
stated.

Hasyim also repeated his appeal for the country's top leaders
to reach a rational compromise in a bid to end the current
political tension.

"We encourage the political elite to reach a compromise. As to
how it will be reached is fully up to them," Hasyim stated.
(02/byg/prb)