Extraordinary session not to query Soeharto

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)