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)