Gus Dur again warns House against second censure

JAKARTA (JP): Seemingly untroubled by the sharp decline of the rupiah, President Abdurrahman Wahid renewed on Saturday his warning that hundreds of thousands of his supporters would descend on Jakarta if the House of Representatives (DPR) tried to push him out of office.

Speaking during a one-day visit to the Central Java town of Tegal, Abdurrahman clearly underlined, however, that he would still press ahead with proposed talks with his main political rivals before the April 30 DPR plenary session.

Legislators at that time will decide whether to issue a second motion of censure against the President.

The President also reiterated his appeal for calm and said that the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Muslim organization, which he chaired for 15 years, and the police would hold joint weapon checks at entry points to the capital.

"NU chairman Hasyim Muzadi and National Police chief Gen. (Surojo) Bimantoro have agreed to carry out joint weapon checks at entry points to Jakarta in Cikampek, Bogor and Tangerang," Abdurrahman, who was in Tegal to attend the 68th commemoration of the death of local Muslim leader Armia Kurdi, said.

Abdurrahman's statement came as coordinator of a ready-to-die force, Wiro Sugiman, claimed in Surabaya earlier in the day that some 3,000 people from several towns in East Java had begun to leave for Jakarta to participate in a istighotsah (mass prayer) organized by the NU on April 29.

The President's statement also came against the backdrop of a proposed preliminary meeting on Saturday between representatives of major political parties.

Officials of Abdurrahman's National Awakening Party (PKB) told reporters later in the day that the "senior officials meeting" had to be delayed until Sunday or Monday due to "lack of response" from other political parties.

Foreign minister Alwi Shihab, who along with legislator Ali Masjkur Musa will represent PKB at the meeting, said earlier that the proposed preliminary meeting was aimed at setting a date and agenda for the "summit" meeting.

Abdurrahman disclosed in Tegal that Golkar would be represented by former Cabinet ministers Theo Sambuaga and Mahadi Sinambela while the United Development Party (PPP) would be represented by Faisal Baasir and Ali Marwan Hanan.

The President added that representatives of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) "will be decided later in the day".

Speaking to The Jakarta Post later in the day, Mahadi confirmed Abdurrahman's statement, saying he had been asked by Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung on Friday morning to represent the party in the meeting.

Mahadi admitted, however, that "nothing has been done so far" as "we really don't know what we are going to do".

"Both Pak Theo and I haven't been in contact with Pak Alwi," Mahadi said.

Meanwhile in Jakarta, Bimantoro said on Saturday that the security authorities would not ban people from coming to the capital to attend the mass prayer and expressing support for the President.

"Anybody is allowed to come to Jakarta as long as they do not bring weapons and, most importantly, do not behave in an anarchic manner.

"No matter who they are and which groups they represent, pro or antigovernment, we will take stern measures if they resort to anarchy," Bimantoro announced prior to a special coordination meeting on political, social and security affairs chaired by Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Present at the meeting were Minister of Home Affairs and Regional Autonomy Surjadi Soedirdja, Minister of Defense Mahfud M.D., National Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Arie J. Kumaat, chiefs of staff of the Air Force, the Navy and the Army, and outgoing Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Mulyono Sulaiman.

Meanwhile, Gen. Mulyono said that ahead of the House plenary session on April 30, about 30 legislators from various factions had asked for police protection after being informed they were "targets" of the ready-to-die force.

"We predict that the President's supporters from East Java will start to flood Jakarta on April 24, so the police will protect them starting from the critical date. One legislator will be guarded by one or two police officers," Mulyono said.

He also said that the city police would dispatch 20,000 personnel from both police and military units to secure the capital for the two major political events. (02/byg/edt/nur)