Dewi, Marwah and Miriam on MPR Special Session

JAKARTA (JP): Presidential spokeswoman Dewi Fortuna Anwar, Golkar legislator Marwah Daud Ibrahim and political professor Miriam Budiardjo may have different views about what justifies the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Special Session.

However, the three intellectuals shared the same hope that the session would herald an improvement in the political situation.

Dewi Fortuna Anwar said it was President B.J. Habibie who took the initiative and proposed that the Assembly hold a Special Session, although he had the constitutional right to retain his position until 2003.

She said the President submitted his plan to Assembly leaders after he replaced president Soeharto in May in response to the people's demands for a democratic general election.

Originally, the session was intended only to decide the date for the general election next year but Habibie later proposed to include other agendas, including a restriction of the presidential term.

"The initiative to hold the Special Session came from the President himself when he met with legislative leaders only one week after he assumed the office," Dewi said in an interview with The Jakarta Post.

One week after replacing president Soeharto on May 21, Habibie went to the House of Representatives to meet House/Assembly Speaker Harmoko. The latter said they agreed that the MPR would hold a Special Session at the year's end.

Based on the Constitution, Habibie could maintain his post until the presidential term expires in 2003, Dewi said, but conceded that it would go against the people's will if Habibie tried to extend his service using the Constitution as his pretext.

Dewi, a political scientist, denied Habibie just wanted to use the MPR session to maintain his power, saying he did not have any control over any MPR faction.

"Pak Habibie does not have his own political party. He does not control Golkar because he does not have any official position in Golkar," Dewi said. This is in contrast to Habibie's predecessor Soeharto, who was Golkar's chief patron.

Dewi dismissed allegations that Habibie was too weak to stand up to his former mentor, and said that problems left behind by Soeharto's government were very complex and could not be settled overnight.

"Let the new government, that is the democratically elected one, deal with other residual problems, including the problems of Soeharto," she said.

She said Habibie does ponder his possible reelection next year.

"I don't think he actually wants to serve another term but neither do I think that he will refuse if he is elected as president because then he will be democratically elected," she said.

"I have talked with him on a number of occasions. For him it is not very important who is the next president because the most important thing is that we should have a democratic system," she said.

Marwah Daud Ibrahim, Assembly member of the Golkar faction, believed the upcoming session was "very, very relevant (to the continuity of reform). It is better than a revolution, which could push us to start over from zero if it happens."

Speaking at a discussion here on Friday, she said: "We just have to make use of the remaining order. But it will be just too expensive, won't it, if the session is just set up to reschedule the poll timetable (from 2002 to 1999)? So, the Assembly Working Committee has decided on 12 draft decrees to pass.

"The 12 decrees reflect the Assembly's efforts to absorb various aspirations of the people," she said, adding the current Assembly shows "stark differences" from the Assembly before Soeharto's downfall.

Marwah said aspirations varied. Those from the regions, for example, have been calling for greater provincial autonomy. In contrast, people who have come directly to the Assembly have demanded better elections.

She said the Assembly Working Committee has produced a draft decree on regional autonomy, which, during Soeharto's regime, was haram (religiously forbidden).

Miriam Budiardjo, a doyenne of Indonesian political science, said: "I just hope the session proceeds safely, peacefully. That there will be no riots, as have been rumored, that there will be no bloodshed.

"I see a ray of hope that if this session proceeds peacefully, we will go to a general election, which is most important of all for our country's political development.

"So, let's see if the Assembly can make real this hope. Let's wait and see," she said. (prb/aan)