Gus Dur hopes to meet critics to end stalemate

Gus Dur hopes to meet critics to end stalemate

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid reportedly has
expressed his desire to meet with top political leaders,
including some of his fiercest critics, to seek an end to the
country's political stalemate.

"The President said he would like to meet with the top leaders
to consider ways to solve the problems confronting the nation,"
Eko Budiharjo, representing several members of the Rectors Forum,
said during a media conference after meeting with Abdurrahman at
Merdeka Palace.

Eko, the rector of Diponegoro University in the Central Java
capital of Semarang, identified the political leaders the
President hoped to sit down with as People's Consultative
Assembly Speaker Amien Rais, House of Representatives Speaker
Akbar Tandjung and Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

He said Abdurrahman would like to see a meeting with the three
politicians take place within two weeks.

Various parties have called for a meeting of the four leaders
over the past several months, but no such gathering materialized.

It was reported last month that Amien had rejected the
possibility of sitting down with Abdurrahman, saying the effort
would be futile.

Later on Friday, Assembly Deputy Speaker A.M. Fatwa appeared
to puncture any hopes of a meeting of the four political leaders,
saying Amien would not agree to sit down with the President for
talks.

"I can assure you that Pak Amien will not respond to any such
invitation," said Fatwa, who is also the vice chairman of the
National Mandate Party (PAN), which is led by Amien.

A meeting between Amien, Akbar, Megawati and Abdurrahman is
"no longer feasible and would be useless", he said.

"Gus Dur is seeking a compromise because he is cornered ...
finished morally as well as politically," Fatwa said, referring
to the President by his nickname.

The House issued a memorandum of censure against Abdurrahman
in February for his alleged involvement in two financial
scandals. If the House elects to issue a second censure, it could
lead to impeachment proceedings against the President.

Abdurrahman has denied any wrongdoing in the two scandals and
has vowed to serve out his entire term, which ends in 2004.

The political turmoil surrounding the President has prompted
his supporters in East Java to sign forms pledging their lives in
defense of Abdurrahman, raising the specter of bloodshed.

Abdurrahman has, however, come out against the actions being
taken by his supporters in East Java. He said on Friday vows to
declare a holy war, or jihad, in defense of him were
"inappropriate and incorrect", although he added that it was
understandable his supporters were angry given the "slanderous"
accusations made against him.

"I believe (the actions of my supporters) are just a reaction
(to the events in Jakarta). Their version of jihad is incorrect,"
he said after Friday prayers in Ciganjur, South Jakarta.

Also in Jakarta, Minister of Defense Mahfud MD said
expressions of support for the President, including signing forms
pledging to fight to the death for the President, were allowed.
"But if the supporters break the law the government will take
stern action against them."

In the South Sulawesi capital of Makassar, Akbar Tandjung, who
is also the chairman of the Golkar Party, welcomed Gus Dur's
proposal for a meeting of the country's political leaders.

"I am personally ready to talk with Gus Dur as long as the
talks are for the sake of the nation," he said at Hasanuddin
Airport before departing for Jakarta.

Akbar's statement is somewhat of a surprise following remarks
he made on Thursday at a Golkar Party gathering in the regency of
Wajo, also in South Sulawesi. During the gathering, he said
Golkar would urge the House to issue a second memorandum of
censure against the President.

Akbar, who was attending the 36th anniversary of the Golkar
branch office in Wajo, said if Gus Dur continued mismanaging the
government, Golkar would not hesitate to sanction him.

"Golkar will urge the hastening of the issuance of the second
memorandum (of censure) if Gus Dur fails to make prompt changes
and corrections (to his style of leadership). We would have no
other choice."

He also dismissed Abdurrahman's claim that a number of
regions, including Riau, Aceh, Maluku, Irian Jaya and Madura,
would declare their independence if he was forced from office.

Some 100 students gathered at Hasannudin Airport to make it
clear to Akbar that they opposed to any meeting between the
political leaders that would lead to a compromise. The students
were adamant in their belief that the President had to resign.
Akbar promised the students he would convey their message to the
House.

In Purwokerto, Central Java, National Awakening Party (PKB)
deputy secretary-general Chotibul Umam said it was time for the
political leaders of the country to end their bickering. "The
proposal from the Rectors Forum could lead to national
reconciliation."

He said his party fully supported all efforts for
reconciliation. "But there are some conditions. First, the
reconciliation should not hamper any legal processes against
those who have been indicted for political and economic
wrongdoing."

But he acknowledged reconciliation would not be easy. "I was
informed that Amien Rais is reluctant to come to the meeting.
That will hamper the reconciliation process." (byg/02/27/45/sur)