Calls for MPR to do its duty color end of session

JAKARTA (JP): Demands, criticism and appeals defined the countdown to the end of the Special Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) on Friday as the toll from violence in street rallies increased.

A statement signed by leaders of a number of parties and non- governmental organizations said that if the session failed to issue a decree to put Soeharto on trial for 32 years of abusing his presidential power, "it would increasingly prove the Special Session is false".

Despite opposition from some factions, Soeharto's name was included on a final Assembly ruling on stamping out corruption, collusion and nepotism.

Signatories to the statement included Munir of the Committee for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), Faisal Basri of the National Mandate Party (PAN), Bambang Widjojanto of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation and former abducted activists Andi Arief of The Students' Solidarity for Democracy in Indonesia and Faisol Riza of the People's Democratic Party.

"Political stupidity" was behind the trend to cloud the issue of Soeharto's accountability with legal technicalities.

In an interview with RCTI television Friday, PAN chairman Amien Rais said MPR members had "better think fast" in the ensuing hours to produce beneficial results and avoid further bloodshed.

Several students and at least one police officer have died in clashes in recent days.

Seventeen individuals, including retired generals Kemal Idris and Ali Sadikin of the National Front, noted paranormal Permadi and the head of the University of Indonesia alumni association Hariadi Darmawan, stated in a communique dated Nov. 12 that the session should be stopped.

"The people no longer recognize the House of Representatives and the Assembly," the statement said. It advocated that a presidium of national figures, including students, should be formed. Its tasks would include the investigation of all abuses of power allegedly committed by Soeharto and present president B.J. Habibie.

The Crescent Star Party, chaired by noted law professor Yusril Ihza Mahendra, blamed the Assembly members' "ambiguous attitude" for partly causing the clashes between pro-reform students and security authorities, including government-enlisted vigilantes.

"Certain factions" wavered "between fighting for true reform and maintaining the status quo reeking of the New Order", the party said in a statement. It warned of disaster if the session failed to make "decisions that side with the people".

With all the session's shortcomings, Crescent Star said it still had a legitimate position to issue basic policies to settle various problems.

Similar to Kontras, the party also demanded an end to the sociopolitical role of the Armed Forces. It described it as "leading to various excesses and damage" in all areas of society.

There was no such assent from 12 parties -- including the Indonesian Democratic Union Party chaired by former jailed government critic Sri Bintang Pamungkas -- which reiterated their rejection of the session.

A statement from the parties, also including the Murba, Indonesian Workers Party and the New Masyumi Party, demanded the immediate establishment of a transitional government to restore the economy.

They also demanded that the immediate agenda for "total reform" include the respect for human rights.

A release from a recognized group of students criticized "efforts to ignore" making Soeharto accountable for killings and other human rights violations in various areas across the country. The group said it was the public's right to know because it footed the bill for the Rp 20 billion session.

Arief Budiman, a sociologist teaching in Australia who was an outspoken critic of Soeharto, suggested during a visit here on Friday that compromise may be the best means to overcome widespread dissatisfaction of the session.

If the advocated triumvirate with the sole task of preparing the general election could not be set up, "B.J. Habibie could remain president but we should have a new Cabinet." He believed the present Cabinet was illegitimate, inclusive of the Assembly which was a result of previous elections containing rampant violations.

The Crescent Party and the Free Nation Party also voiced support for the Ciganjur declaration drawn up by Abdurrahman Wahid, Megawati Soekarnoputri, Sultan Hamengkubuwono X and Amien Rais. Issued on Tuesday, the declaration urged that a new president and vice president should be elected at the latest three months after the general election next May.

The Free Nation party's statement also said it hoped the Assembly session could "make a breakthrough with products which meet the spirit of reform".

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Textile, Garment and Leather Workers Union also lauded student efforts which led to the Ciganjur declaration. The union said Assembly participants should pay attention to the students' deeds.

Criticizing Assembly members who have argued Soeharto is freed of culpability in any past wrongdoings because he is now a private citizen, the union said he was "a president (who) for the last 32 years had brought misery to a population reaching 200 million".

It urged the ruling Golkar political grouping to make the best of the session to apologize to all Indonesians "for its sins in upholding Soeharto's power which brought suffering to the people". (anr)