Gus Dur may seek Supreme Court's help

Gus Dur may seek Supreme Court's help

JAKARTA (JP): In another desperate attempt at survival,
President Abdurrahman has turned to the Supreme Court for legal
assistance in facing the House of Representatives (DPR).

Minister of Justice and Human Rights Baharuddin Lopa intimated
on Monday that the President might ask the Supreme Court to issue
a ruling on the legality of the House special committee that
probed Abdurrahman's alleged role in two financial scandals known
as Bulogate and Bruneigate.

"When there is a dispute on legal matters (between the
President and the House), the Supreme Court may intervene by
issuing an opinion on the source of the conflict," Lopa said on
the sidelines of a hearing with the House.

"As the highest judicial organ, I think the Supreme Court can
issue a ruling to settle any legal disputes, especially in a case
such as this where there is worsening antagonism between the
President and the House."

The President had reportedly planned to impose a state of
emergency, which would have enabled him to dissolve the House,
but this was rejected by the military and major political
parties.

Abdurrahman's political life is in danger as the House is
scheduled to convene later this month to evaluate the President's
response to the House's second memorandum of censure.

The House issued the second censure on April 30 after it
concluded that the President had failed to heed the initial
rebuke handed to him some three months previously.

House Speaker Akbar Tandjung has repeatedly hinted that the
House will call for the impeachment of the President by asking
the People' Consultative Assembly (MPR) to convene a special
session demanding that the President account for his actions.

Abdurrahman has repeatedly protested his innocence and slammed
the House special committee set up to probe his alleged links
with the two financial scandals as being illegal.

If the Supreme Court agrees with the President regarding the
existence of the committees, then the House will have to drop its
censures.

Newly inducted Supreme Court Chief Justice Bagir Manan,
however, has insisted that the court would stay aloof from
political issues.

When asked whether such a Supreme Court ruling would be
binding, Baharuddin replied: "Of course, both parties would be
expected to abide by it". (prb)