Call for opposition figures to join MPR

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)