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)