Constitutional methods best for leadership change

JAKARTA (JP): University rectors asked citizens on Tuesday to pursue a constitutional mechanism should they have plans to unseat Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid from the presidency.

"We suggest that if the President resigns before his term ends in 2004, the mechanism should be an early general election, because a general election would be a constitutional method to form a government," Thoby Mutis, chairman of the Jakarta chapter of the Rectors Forum, told a media conference.

"Members of the Rectors Forum recently met with President Abdurrahman Wahid to discuss the political situation in the country."

"And we agreed that all political affairs should be handled peacefully," said Thoby, who is also rector of Trisakti University.

Established in 1998, the forum consists of 600 rectors of state and private universities from across the country.

"An early presidential election, perhaps in 2002, is better than violence to topple Gus Dur.

"Let the people decide. Students, in this case, must play the role of a monitoring party," Thoby said.

He said Abdurrahman's administration must be given the opportunity to lead the country "without too much interference from other political elite."

"The country's political elite no longer appreciate ethics in running a democratic state.

"The Monday hearing on the Brunei and State Logistics Agency (Bulog) financial scandals is a vivid example of how the legislators have ignored the consensus over the secrecy of the hearing," he said.

Thoby said the forum also suggested that the 35 billion (US$3.6 million) Bulog scandal and the $2 million donation from Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah be brought to court.

"Such alleged corruption is supposed to be settled in court. We have to be fair and not end up cornering him (Abdurrahman).

"What is happening now is that Gus Dur is surrounded by too many enemies. He has to solve everything by himself and his staff cannot do much to help lighten his job," he said.

Separately, forum executive Sudjana Sapi'ie, who was rector of the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) in the 1970s, said that Abdurrahman has taught the House a hard lesson by walking out of the meeting.

"That action clearly reminded the House of the fact that Indonesia recognizes the presidential system, not a legislative one," Sudjana said on the sidelines of a seminar on Renewing the Political Laws.

"Although such action may jeopardize Abdurrahman's position, House members still have little chance to topple him. Can they prove he committed wrongdoings?" he asked.

He said that Abdurrahman's alleged corruption cannot be compared with the situation in the Philippines.

"Estrada lost his presidential seat after the Philippines Military withdrew their support for him.

"In Indonesia, TNI has never withdrawn its support for Abdurrahman," he said.

He said that it would not be as easy to bring the President down here as in the Philippines because such an opposition movement must win the support of TNI.

In Yogyakarta, political observer Riswandha Imawan of Gadjah Mada University said on Tuesday that "Gus Dur had wasted a golden opportunity to bring peace to the nation and to prove his statesmanship to the people."

"If he is innocent then why did he leave the meeting? He should challenge the House's special committee to confront his testimony against that of Suwondo, for instance," he said.

Meanwhile in Semarang, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) chairman Hasyim Muzadi asserted on Monday night that "there are a lot of parties trying to break NU apart and overthrow Gus Dur from the presidency."

"Therefore, we have warned all NU members, including the Banser civilian security task force, not to be provoked to commit mass action or violence," Hasyim said.

In Makassar capital of South Sulawesi, some 100 students of Hasanuddin University staged a protest against Gus Dur, calling him a "failed leader and full of inconsistency".

However, the NU chapter in South Sulawesi, claimed that they would hold an Istighotsah (mass prayer) in Makassar soon.

"We want to pray for the safety of the nation and our state leaders," NU's Sanusi Baso said on Tuesday.

A similar protest also took place in Yogyakarta where some 200 students gathered at Gadjah Mada University (UGM) demanding the President resign.

The protesters were from UGM, Muhammadiyah University and Yogyakarta State University.

"Gus Dur! You don't need to avoid the House's special committee. Just resign!" one of the protesters shouted. (edt/02/har/27/44)