Gus Dur ignores second memorandum

Gus Dur ignores second memorandum

President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid's appearance on state
television on April 2, 2001 -- with not a single reference to the
second memorandum, let alone response to it, as many had expected
-- will surely be seen by the opposition as ignoring the censure
motion. In a way, Gus Dur has now thrown his last cards on the
table and will defiantly wait for the other camp's next move.

That move cannot be other than a proposal to the People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR) to hold a special session to impeach
the President, according to the predicted scenario.

In his televised address, Gus Dur suggested that due to his
personal interference, peace has prevailed in the country and
that the unruly crowd that traveled from several provinces to
Jakarta could be controlled while they demonstrated their support
for him. Accordingly the House of Representatives could
deliberate peacefully and successfully -- culminating with the
issuance of the second memorandum. However, Gus Dur has also been
adamant in reminding the legislative body of its duties and
shortcomings, apparently as a counter move.

Gus Dur has remained fearless amid the maelstrom, but also
unaware of the fact that under whatever system (parliamentary or
presidential) he has, first, lost his political legitimacy since
eight of 10 factions in the House have withdrawn their support.
Gus Dur prefers to count on the hundred of thousands of his
fanatic followers rather than taking account of those elected to
sit in the House. Maybe he is thinking that democracy, after all,
has something to do with majority. Perhaps he longs to fly out of
the country to visit Australia and New Zealand and directly face
prospective investors to help the country's sagging economy to
move again in the right direction, single-handedly.

The whole nation is now turning its attention to what Vice
President Megawati and the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle will initiate with the support of other political party
leaders.

A little pressure on Gus Dur to step aside -- not necessarily
step down -- and be a figure-head president while transferring
full executive power to Megawati seems to be the only and last
way to resolve the political impasse.

GANDHI SUKARDI

Jakarta