Call for opposition figures to join MPR

JAKARTA (JP): Three leading members of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) have called on the country's three most influential opposition figures -- Abdurrahman Wahid, Amien Rais and Megawati Soekarnoputri -- to be appointed members of the nation's highest law making body.

Politicians and observers were divided when asked to comment. Some hailed the move, others remained skeptical.

Deputy chairman of the dominant Golkar faction, Din Syamsuddin, was quoted by Antara saying that "real public support" was the reason why he had suggested the three prominent figures be made MPR members.

Chairman of the United Development Party (PPP) faction, Faisal Baasir, said Gus Dur -- as Abdurrahman is also known -- Amien and Megawati could become MPR members as representatives of societal groups.

Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) in the MPR, Fatimah Achmad, said she found "no problem" with the suggestion.

Abdurrahman is the chairman of the country's largest Moslem organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), and Amien -- former chairman of the country's second largest Moslem organization Muhammadiyah -- is now the chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN). Megawati was recently re-elected chairwoman of a faction in the splintered PDI.

Din said other such figures need to be "included, invited and even made MPR members" to add weight to the upcoming MPR Special Session scheduled to be held here between Nov. 10 and Nov. 13.

Din suggested that the MPR session could be given added value and instead of being used simply to deliberate and endorse decrees, could also be used as a "forum for national reconciliation".

The politician -- who is also a director general at the Ministry of Manpower and a member of the Indonesia Ulemas Council (MUI) -- argued that his suggestion was viable because the MPR session was the country's highest political forum.

Din even suggested that between three and five student representatives could be appointed MPR members, pointing out that student protests across the country had led to former president Soeharto's resignation.

Separately the PPP faction chairman Faisal told Antara that his faction has long suggested that Abdurrahman, Amien and Megawati be appointed MPR members.

"I suggest President B.J. Habibie appoint Amien Rais, Megawati and Gus Dur as MPR members through the societal group representation channel," he said.

Under the current political law, a prospective MPR member representing a societal group is nominated by existing political forces for the President to endorse.

Faisal added, "Psychologically, the presence (of the three figures) will bring about a significant change" in the wake of the upcoming special session of the MPR.

Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, the popular Yogyakarta governor, said on Monday that he welcomed the proposal. Military observer Lt. Gen. (ret) Hasnan Habib gave his qualified agreement, saying, "as long as the (MPR) mechanism will allow it".

Political observer Hermawan Sulistyo, however, said he doubted the three noted figures would take up the offer.

"It's too late,' he was quoted by Antara as saying.

Matori Abdul Djalil, the chairman of Gus Dur's People's Awakening party (PKB), was also skeptical.

He said if the special session was supposed to be a "national reconciliation forum", it should have been discussed long ago because the agenda was now largely set. "What good is attending a session in which everything has been prepared. Won't it just mean strengthening the status quo?" he said. (imn/edt/aan)