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or presidential) he has, first, lost his political legitimacy since eight of 10 factions in the House have withdrawn their support.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