Fourth faction rejects speech

JAKARTA (JP): The Love the Nation Democratic Party (PDKB) faction became the fourth faction in the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) to reject President B.J. Habibie's accountability speech, while the United Ummat Sovereignty faction stood alone on Saturday in its outright acceptance of the speech.

Of the Assembly's 11 factions, four rejected the speech, one accepted it and six factions failed to come down on one side or the other, referring the speech to the Assembly commission which will be formed to deliberate the speech.

As with the proceedings on Friday night, Habibie patiently sat in front of the Assembly taking notes as the factions delivered their views on his accountability speech.

Representing PDKB, Manasse Malo not only rejected Habibie's speech, but also asked Habibie to voluntarily renounce his presidential candidacy.

"We appeal for the readiness and sincerity of Bapak B.J. Habibie to allow the people to emerge from this catastrophe while maintaining the country's unity and tranquility," Malo said as he read the faction's review to the Assembly's plenary session.

Malo's faction deplored Habibie's embarrassing record on human rights, likening it to tragedies in Kosovo and Rwanda.

PDKB's rejection followed rejections by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), Indonesian Nationhood and National Awakening Party (PKB) factions during Friday's plenary session.

Four other factions -- the Golkar Party of Reform, United Development, Reform and the Crescent Star -- expressed reservations with Habibie's accountability speech on Friday, but failed to formally accept or reject the speech.

Instead, they referred the accountability speech to the Assembly commission for deliberation.

In his address on Saturday, Malo not only criticized Habibie's record as head of state, but also referred back to Habibie's record as state minister of research and technology and president of state-owned aircraft manufacturer PT IPTN.

He even linked the banning of Tempo magazine in 1994 to Habibie.

"Habibie is the golden boy of former president Soeharto, with extraordinary power in managing state resources. President B.J. Habibie's style in managing these resources is similar to Soeharto's; no transparency or accountability," Malo said.

The United Ummat Sovereignty faction was the only faction which openly accepted Habibie's speech, albeit with some reservations.

Faction chairman Achmad Sjatari said it was unfair to demand the President make significant changes to the economy and the country's political system in such a short time in office.

"Habibie, as a human being, has weaknesses and made mistakes in his efforts to accommodate the demands of the reform movement," he said.

Sjatari said it was not the current administration but the former New Order regime which should be blamed for the crises, because the country's present situation was the result of irregularities during the old regime.

The Indonesian Military/National Police and interest group factions failed to reach definite conclusions in their overviews on Saturday.

The 38-member Indonesian Military/National Police faction was represented by Maj. Gen. Ide Ketut Astawa, who said that despite some progress, Habibie's administration failed to significantly remedy the country's prolonged economic and political crises.

He said his faction was particularly concerned with four crucial points -- the East Timor issue, the Bank Bali scandal, human rights violations and the suspension of the investigation into the alleged corruption by former president Soeharto.

Astawa also called on the Assembly to find a peaceful and comprehensive solution to East Timor.

"For 23 years, the military has paid a high price defending East Timor's integration into Indonesian, but it is something the military has to accept as part of its mission to defend the nation," he said.

The government's decision to halt the investigation of former president Soeharto was highlighted by the 65-member interest group faction, which said Habibie was not serious in handling the case.

Faction spokesman Achmad Zacky Siradj said Habibie and his government failed to realize that allegations of corruption involving Soeharto and his associates were not only a legal matter, but also a political one.

He said the Attorney General's Office was pressured by certain groups which did not want the former president to be brought to trial.

In a related development, National Mandate Party (PAN) deputy chairman Abdillah Toha said here on Saturday his party's central board had asked its faction in the Assembly to reject Habibie's speech.

"We are pushing the MPR to reject Habibie's accountability speech because we feel that Habibie has failed to carry out the people's mandate," he said.

PAN and the Justice Party make up the Reform faction, which on Friday did not take a final position on the President's accountability speech.

"This is a binding agreement to all PAN members," he said of the directive. But when pressed further, he said it was difficult to compel individual party members if it came to a vote on the speech.

"I think after last night, morally, Habibie doesn't stand a chance anymore," he said. (02/rms/prb)