Efforts to expedite special session fail

JAKARTA (JP): Antigovernment demonstrators who had been camping out at the House of Representatives complex dispersed on Wednesday after minority factions in the People's Consultative Assembly scuttled attempts to expedite a special session which could impeach President Abdurrahman Wahid.

Assembly Speaker Amien Rais, who presided over a meeting of the factions on Wednesday, confirmed the divisions among them over the acceleration of the special session.

But he quickly stressed that the factions had agreed that a special session would be necessary in the coming months.

"Due to the absence of constitutional grounds, the House should continue with the process leading to a second memorandum," Amien said.

Sutjipto, from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction, said his faction would support a special session only if it were convened in accordance with the Constitution.

The House recently issued a memorandum censuring the President for his alleged involvement in two financial scandals. The President has three months in which to respond.

A second memorandum of censure can be issued after that, and a month later the House can propose that the Assembly convene a special session.

But factions such as those representing the Reform Party, United Development Party (PPP) and Crescent Star Party (PBB), have been calling for the immediate special session.

"The House could call for an expedited special session due to the chaotic situation as provided for under Article 50 of the House's internal rules," Muchtar Luthfi, chairman of the Reform faction, said.

Other factions, however, seemed more cautious.

Maj. Gen. Budi Harsono representing the Indonesian Military/National Police faction said that they did not support bringing forward a special session.

"Our faction's main concern is to salvage the nation and the state, instead of short-term political objectives," he said.

Similarly Harun Khamil, Assembly deputy speaker representing the Societal Groups faction, also stressed that the House should first follow through with the censure process.

Fahmi Idris, chairman of the Golkar Party faction, said: "It's better to wait until a second memorandum of censure has been issued by the House in May."

Rallies

As news spread that no consensus could be reached, the students who had been camping in the grounds of the House for two nights began to disperse.

But they remained defiant and pledged to continue their struggle.

On Wednesday it was pro-Abdurrahman supporters who grabbed the limelight as hundreds of them gathered in front of the state palace in support of the President.

Many claimed to have traveled from outside Jakarta, from places such as Pasuruan and Malang in East Java, Pekalongan and Cilacap in Central Java and Cirebon and Purwakarta in West Java.

Many were armed with bamboo canes in anticipation of clashes with opposing demonstrators.

Later in the afternoon, the police bomb squad was called after a suspicious package was found near the palace.

"This package really spooked the demonstrators. We're still investigating the matter," Gambir Police chief Comr. Nurhadi said.

The police refused to say if the package contained explosives.

City police chief Insp. Gen. Mulyono Sulaiman said that no more than 4,000 police officers would be deployed in Greater Jakarta on Thursday to anticipate further rallies.

"We will not increase this normal number unless there's an absolute necessity," Mulyono told The Jakarta Post.

"There are rumors that there will be mass demonstrations by City Forum (Forkot) and their friends, but there's been no confirmation as yet," he said.

Meanwhile, scuffles broke out between marchers from the Student Executive Boards (BEMs) and students from Bung Karno University near the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation's offices in Central Jakarta.

About 17 students were detained.

Elsewhere, in Makassar, South Sulawesi, students took to the streets to demand Abdurrahman's resignation. The protest resulted in traffic congestion for two hours around midday.

The protesters included students from the Indonesian Muslim Students Front Movement (KAMMI), Reform Salvation Council, the Student Executive Boards, and different universities.

In Semarang, Central Java, 200 students from the local Student Executive Boards swarmed the grounds of the provincial legislative council building urging the members of the political elite to unite and focus on the welfare of the people instead of merely demanding Abdurrahman's resignation.

Separately, another 50 students from the National Students' League for Democracy gathered to condemn violence committed by demonstrators.

"We urge all people to open anti-New Order command posts to pave the way towards real democracy," Simon, the coordinator said, adding that the group wanted the Golkar party to be disbanded. (01/27/rms/ylt/har/sur)