Gus Dur censured again

JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly on Monday to issue a second memorandum of censure against President Abdurrahman Wahid, bringing him closer to the brink of impeachment.

House secretary-general Sri Sumaryat read the conclusion of the two-hour meeting of the House leadership and faction chairs that followed the vote: "President Abdurrahman Wahid, over the past three months, failed to heed the first memorandum."

Sri said the second memorandum of censure was issued as a follow-up to the first memorandum issued on Feb. 1. This first censure was delivered after it was found the President had violated State Policy Guidelines by failing to honor his presidential oath and to adhere to People's Consultative Assembly Decree XI/1998 on clean governance and the eradication of corruption, collusion and nepotism.

The second memorandum is expected to be officially handed to Abdurrahman on Tuesday.

After hearing the general view of 10 factions, the House voted 363 to 52, with 42 abstentions, in favor of the censure motion during a plenary session presided over by Deputy Speaker Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan).

The president now has one month to respond to this second censure.

If the House is dissatisfied with the President's reply to the second censure it can issue a third memorandum calling on the People's Consultative Assembly, the highest legislative body in the country, to convene a special session for possible impeachment proceedings.

Not surprisingly, the main opposition to the second censure came from Abdurrahman's National Awakening Party (PKB), whose 48 legislators voted en bloc against the memorandum.

Four legislators from the Love the Nation Democratic faction (F-PDKB) also voted against the censure.

The 38-member Indonesian Military/National Police faction made up the bulk of the 42 abstentions. The other four abstentions were legislators from PDI Perjuangan, the Indonesian Nationhood (KKI) faction, the United Ummat Sovereignty (F-PDU) faction and F-PDKB.

The memorandum process began when a House special committee found there were grounds to suspect Abdurrahman was involved in two financial scandals.

However, the debate over the issuance of a second censure moved beyond the scandals, with the six factions supporting the censure -- PDI Perjuangan, the Golkar Party, the United Development Party (PPP), the Reform faction, the Crescent Star Party (PBB) and the Ummat Sovereignty Party (PDU) -- focusing on the failures of Abdurrahman's administration.

Bleak

While the political future of the President looks increasingly bleak, House Speaker Akbar Tandjung said Abdurrahman still had one month to rescue his presidency.

"The second censure must not be followed by the impeachment of the President if he gives a positive reply to the memorandum and offers a political compromise to help resolve the problems of the nation.

"But the House may call for a special session for his impeachment if he continues to confront the legislative body and reject the House's recent investigation into the financial scandals ... and declines to be more cooperative in solving national problems," Akbar said.

The House expects to evaluate the President's reply to the second memorandum on May 30.

If a special session is called, the Assembly's Working Committee would be given two months to make preparations for the session, which would be expected to take place on July 30 or in early August.

Pramono Anung Wibowo, the deputy secretary of PDI Perjuangan, said the ball was in Abdurrahman's court, adding that Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri, who is also the chairwoman of PDI Perjuangan, was ready to replace Abdurrahman if he was impeached.

Syamsul Muarif, the chairman of the Golkar Party faction, said his party was prepared to support PDI Perjuangan.

"Golkar has no ambitions of power. We are ready to act as the opposition if we are required to do so. But we are ready to take part if other factions want this," he said.

Despite the issuance of the second censure there was talk of compromise, with the PKB, PDKB and Unity and Nationhood (FKKI) factions proposing a dialog to seek a solution to the political rift.

PKB chairman Matori Abdul Djalil maintained that what was needed now was for everyone to sit down and talk to find an amicable, satisfactory solution to the political crisis.

He warned that the nation's problems could not be resolved by simply replacing the President.

"Do you think the problems of the nation are that simple?" Matori remarked. "Everyone should tone down their anger so a meeting can take place."

Even before the House plenary session began there were protests from the legislators, who questioned Soetardjo's chairing the session despite the presence of House Speaker Akbar, who was seated beside Soetardjo.

After several exchanges the House leadership broke for a private conference and decided to allow Soetardjo to chair the session.

President Abdurrahman remained tight-lipped about the proceedings, with his aides saying no comment was expected from the palace before Tuesday at the earliest.

The President cleared his schedule on Monday so he could follow the proceeding on television, only venturing out once in the evening to the Nahdlatul Ulama office.

Top Cabinet ministers also kept quiet about these latest developments. They held a meeting late on Monday night at the office of Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

There were few details of the meeting, which was also attended by Minister of Justice and Human Rights Baharuddin Lopa, Indonesian Military chief Adm. Widodo AS, National Police chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro and Minister of Defense Mahfud MD, among others.

Most of those in attendance sped away from the meeting in their cars rather than field questions from journalists. (rms/dja)