Factions' moves to hasten special session cool down
Factions' moves to hasten special session cool down
JAKARTA (JP): Major political parties begin to display a lack
of confidence in their bid to expedite the special session of the
People's Consultative Assembly.
Top leaders of Golkar Party, United Development Party (PPP)
and National Mandate Party (PAN) admitted on Monday there were no
strong reasons to accelerate the session, which was originally
scheduled to start on Aug. 1.
The Assembly has asked President Abdurrahman Wahid to present
his accountability speech during the session.
Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung said his party deemed that the
original itinerary for the session was likely to remain
unchanged.
"If there are no actions from the President that violate the
State Policy Guidelines, then there is no reason to move forward
the special session," Akbar, who is also the House of
Representatives Speaker, said.
Akbar asserted that the decision to expedite the special
session was in the hands of the Assembly working committee, which
also holds the authority to supervise the government.
"The Assembly working committee must assess the government's
performance and report to the Assembly leaders, before it
discusses anything about an accelerated special session," Akbar
said.
PAN chairman and Assembly Speaker Amien Rais reiterated that
it was too early to discuss the possibility of speeding up the
special session, saying that the issue was so far limited to a
discourse between major political parties.
"It (the expedited special session) is too early to
materialize," Amien said, adding there had been no formal talks
on the matter.
He admitted, however, that five major factions aired the
possibility of accelerating the special session during a recent
consultative meeting between the Assembly working committee and
Assembly leaders, but the issue was not discussed.
Amien said that none of the factions had provided an official
letter requesting a hastened special session to the Assembly
working committee.
"Let the discussion continue among the parties. If it turns
out that the request receives more support then of course the
Assembly leadership will not ignore the call," he said.
Leaders of Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan), Golkar Party, PPP, PAN and the Crescent Star Party
(PBB) have held several meetings to seek a constitutional basis
to expedite the special session.
The President's intention to declare a state of emergency, his
decision to suspend the National Police chief and approval of
investigation into alleged graft involving his political foes
have sparked the idea of accelerating the MPR special session.
Assembly decree No.2/2000 stipulates a minimum two months of
preparation for a special session to take place.
Separately, PPP secretary-general Alimarwan Hanan said that
major parties no longer discussed the call to expedite the
special session.
"We will leave it to the MPR working committee to decide the
right time and agenda of the special session, considering the
current developments in the country," Alimarwan told The Jakarta
Post.
Alimarwan said in the latest meeting between secretary
generals of the parties on Sunday night, the five major parties
agreed to ensure that the special session would end the country's
problems.
"We want to make sure that the special session will give a
positive solution for everybody, so no one will be disgraced and
the decision can be accepted by the people," he further said.
"All we want now is a successful special session that could
convene peacefully and honorably," Alimarwan added.
Meanwhile, Ministry of Finance's Director General of Budget
Anshari Ritonga said that the government and the House have yet
to discuss the budget for the special session.
"We have allocated Rp 20 billion to finance the annual
session. When it comes to the special session, we have just
agreed on its financial source and not the amount of funds,"
Anshari said as quoted by Antara. (dja)