Extraordinary session not to query Soeharto

JAKARTA (JP): The People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) will hold an extraordinary session only to revoke decrees on elections, and not, as many have demanded, to question former president Soeharto over his leadership.

MPR deputy chairman Poedjono Pranyoto made it clear yesterday that the Assembly would not revoke its decrees appointing Soeharto president and B.J. Habibie vice president for the 1998/2003 term.

"We won't go that far. But it's possible that the issue will be discussed in the MPR working committee," Poedjono was quoted by Antara as saying after attending a meeting of MPR and House of Representatives leaders presided over by Speaker Harmoko.

The working committee is a small group consisting of representatives from the five MPR factions: Golkar, the United Development Party, the Indonesian Democratic Party, the Armed Forces and regional representatives.

Poedjono revealed yesterday that a meeting between MPR leaders and faction leaders took place last Friday to discuss various alternatives on how they were to go about holding the extraordinary session.

The meeting was a "consultation", said Poedjono, and was not meant to make any decisions. But faction leaders agreed to move up the general election from 2002, and to call on the Assembly to revoke or review election decrees.

Poedjono did not say when the extraordinary session would be held, but an earlier commitment by House Speaker Harmoko and President B.J. Habibie put it at end of this year or early 1999.

Habibie said last week his government "has been rushing" to implement various reform agendas, including the preparation of new political laws which would open the door for a fair general election to be held as early as May next year.

He also said his government intended to complete the laws on elections and political parties by August, and have them enacted by December.

Once enacted, the MPR could meet in December to set a date for a general election, Habibie said. "They (Assembly members) will need only one day to decide."

He argued that the country would then need a few months to prepare for the elections. A new assembly formed as a result of the elections could then meet in December to elect a new president and vice president.

Habibie has estimated the election would cost Rp 3 trillion to organize. Last year's election cost Rp 1.4 trillion because it was only contested by three parties, he said. (swe)