Deal offered as emergency looms

Deal offered as emergency looms

JAKARTA (JP): Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri continued
on Friday night to weigh a transfer of power deal proposed by
President Abdurrahman Wahid who reportedly threatened to impose a
state of national emergency should impeachment proceedings
against him proceed.

As of midnight, Megawati had not officially responded to the
President's proposition to hand over "constitutional duties" to
her, made during an afternoon Cabinet meeting.

Vice presidential secretary Bambang Kesowo confirmed on Friday
evening that Megawati during the meeting made no decision.

Bambang, who attended the Cabinet meeting, also revealed that
Abdurrahman had mentioned the possibility of declaring a state of
emergency.

Sources said the President warned that a state of emergency
decree could be issued on Saturday morning if no response was
given by midnight.

Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan)
secretary-general Soetjipto also said Abdurrahman threatened to
impose a state of emergency if the House of Representatives
pushed through with its intention to call a special session of
the People's Consultative Assembly.

"In the Cabinet meeting, it was stated that if the parties
continued with their intention to hold special session then the
state of emergency would be subsequently declared," Soetjipto
said after meeting Megawati at her official residence Friday
afternoon.

When asked about her reaction, Soetjipto said: "She has yet to
decide anything."

Bambang separately stressed that Megawati had not specifically
rejected the offer.

"She just said that she could not accept it because she had to
carefully study the idea as the legal aspects were debatable,"
Bambang said.

Bambang pointed out that further clarification was needed on
certain points of the offer.

"The delegation of power term will invite lengthy debate over
the constitutional process, moreover there is no clear definition
of the scope and substance of the delegation of power," Bambang
said.

At about midnight PDI Perjuangan secretary-general Pramono
Anung, one of the many party executives gathered at the Vice
President's residence, gave the strongest indication yet of
Megawati's likely stance.

"We do not recognize compromise outside the constitutional
process," he said adding that the party would pursue the
procedures provided with the House and if necessary a special
session of the Assembly.

He further revealed that House faction leaders were at the
same time also holding meetings with military top brass.

Power

An official of Abdurrahman's National Awakening Party (PKB)
said late on Friday that the party deplored Megawati's silence on
the President's proposal.

"What else does she want? Basically the President has given
her everything," PKB deputy secretary-general Chotibul Umam
Wiranu told The Jakarta Post.

Umam then claimed that he had with him the original copy of
the proposal read by Abdurrahman at the Friday afternoon meeting.

"I, as President of the Republic of Indonesia, hereby declare
that I will hand over my duties both as head of state and head of
government (to the Vice President). The implementation of the
duties will be arranged through a presidential decree and it
could be accounted for during the (Assembly) annual session,"
Umam quoted.

Presidential aides late Friday also denied claims that the
President had made such a threat.

Presidential spokesman Yahya C. Staquf said: "The President
principally appeals to all parties not to issue statements that
will only worsen the situation," Yahya told the Post.

However the police and military had raised their alert status
in anticipation of possible developments.

By midnight, everyone was playing a waiting game.

A hastily convened meeting of six faction leaders of the House
ended without conclusion.

Golkar Party faction leader Syamsul Mu'arif said they would
not take a decision since Megawati was unlikely to immediately
respond. He added they would also wait and see whether the
President carried out his threat.

Leaders of the Assembly also met to discuss the situation.

Assembly Speaker Amien Rais claimed that Abdurrahman had
postponed the deadline for announcing the state of emergency to
10 a.m. Saturday.

He warned that if the president imposed such a condition than
it would only hasten the special session.

Tension levels rose on Friday following an afternoon Cabinet
meeting at 2 p.m.

About 15 minutes after the meeting began Megawati walked out
of the Bina Graha presidential office.

Abdurrahman also left the meeting some 20 minutes after
Megawati.

The President later said Megawati had to leave because she had
to attend her party's meeting, although Megawati herself went
straight back to her official residence on Jl. Teuku Umar,
Central Jakarta.

Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security
Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who heads a team of seven
ministers tasked with proposing a political compromise, said
during the meeting ministers also proposed their own power-
sharing proposal.

The proposal consists of a power sharing scheme between the
President and Vice President, and the formation of a new
coalition Cabinet, similar to the one set up in October 1999.

He further confirmed that Abdurrahman offered to hand over
some "constitutional duties" to Megawati, but that she had asked
for time to study the scheme.

"The President is of course waiting for a definite answer from
the Vice President," he said adding that Abdurrahman did not
provide details of the proposed power-transfer.

Citing predictions from military and police intelligence
bodies, Susilo ominously warned that "if the best solution was
not chosen, there could be significant social, political and
security disturbances in this country, the cost and risks of
which would be difficult to overcome."

Susilo then conveyed an appeal from the Indonesian Military
(TNI) for a compromise.

"Even though the TNI does not want to enter the domain of day-
to-day politics, but since the responsibility for security in
this country is in the hands of the TNI and police, they want to
have a peaceful solution," he said.

"(The TNI wants) a political compromise which is rational,
constitutional and not a plot of the moment which only serves
personal interests." (byg/dja/prb/45)