Gus Dur brushes off special session by the Assembly

Gus Dur brushes off special session by the Assembly

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid persisted on Friday
with his belligerent stance against the upcoming special session
of the People's Consultative Assembly claiming that he was duty
bound to defend his presidency.

Abdurrahman again sounded out a strong warning against the
Assembly's attempts to seek his accountability, contending that
he was only obligated to make such a report at the end of his
five-year term in 2004.

Speaking in a public dialog after Friday prayers at a mosque
in Cijantung, East Jakarta, Abdurrahman likened any attempt to
oust him as an effort to threaten the country's virtual
existence.

"The answer is very clear, if there is any insurrection
against the presidential institution, it is my obligation to
defend it," the President charged.

But Abdurrahman said he would be willing to personally attend
the special session which was due to begin on Aug. 1.

Seemingly unperturbed by the political moves of the House of
Representatives edging him closer to possible impeachment,
Abdurrahman expressed confidence that the brouhaha would all come
to naught.

"I am confident it will not happen (the Assembly's demand for
his accountability). Therefore I have no objection to the
Assembly's special session," he remarked.

Later in the afternoon at Merdeka Palace in a meeting with old
chums which included Frans Magnis Suseno and talk show host Jaya
Suprana, Abdurrahman complained that his public appearances were
no longer entertaining since his close aides had prohibited him
from cracking jokes.

"I'm not allowed to tell jokes. It has affected me," the
President said, as quoted by Jaya.

But according to Jaya, during the meeting the President's
friends urged him to pick up the habit again as they believed
humor was one of the President's best sources of inspiration.

"Starting tomorrow I will start telling jokes again," the
President reportedly said.

Megawati

Separately the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan) faction chairman at the Assembly, Sophan Sophiaan,
said that party boss Megawati Soekarnoputri did not agree with
the calls to accelerate the Assembly special session.

Sophan, whose intention to resign as the faction leader had
been rejected by Megawati, denied speculation that she wanted to
expedite the session due to her eagerness to remove the
President.

He underlined that Megawati, always persists in setting party
policy in accordance with the Constitution.

"The idea (to expedite the special session) has nothing to do
with Ibu Megawati. It isn't true that she is impatient to take
over the country's leadership," Sophan remarked.

The idea of forwarding the session, is simply aimed at
anticipating radical moves which may be taken by the President,
Sophan noted.

Sophan, who initially made a name for himself as an actor and
film director, pointed out that constitutionally it would be
difficult to expedite the special session unless there were fatal
infractions with widespread debilitating repercussions committed
by the President.

On Thursday night five major parties -- PDI Perjuangan,
Golkar, the United Development Party, the National Mandate Party
and the Crescent Star Party -- met to look at possible legal
loopholes which would allow a hastened special session.

National Awakening Party (PKB) Chairman Matori Abdul Djalil
however warned of the consequences of any attempt to rush the
special session.

"We urge all parties to stick to the Constitution and
demonstrate prudence in dealing with the current political
situation," said Matori. (dja/prb)