Gus Dur must stick to Constitution

Gus Dur must stick to Constitution

From Rakyat Merdeka

The latest step by President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid to defend his position was his recent statement made at Tegal, Central Java, saying that the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) can judge his accountability in 2004, i.e., only after his term of office is over.

Gus Dur has used dozens of steps, but they were all to no avail because the House of Representatives (DPR) has been using constitutional procedures through the first memorandum, which will soon be followed by the second memorandum. The MPR's special session, to be held after the second memorandum, is expected, by the majority of factions in DPR, to lead to Gus Dur stepping down.

Considering that Gus Dur has so far stuck to Article 7, Chapter 3 of the 1945 Constitution, concerning his five-year term of office, without paying careful attention to paragraph (2) of Article 6 of the Constitution stipulating that "the president is elected by MPR", which means that the MPR can, at any time, oust the president in an MPR special session if the president breaks his presidential pledge such as telling lies, provoking followers, failing to uphold justice, and failing to enforce current laws and regulations sincerely.

Gus Dur also made an astute statement at Pesantren (Islamic boarding school) Attauhidiyah, Cikura, Tegal, when he declared that in politics there are two determining elements, namely facts and strength. Gus Dur's fact is that he is the president elected by the MPR, and by strength he meant his supporters numbering 400,000 people who have determined to come to Jakarta.

Gus Dur must have forgotten that the two elements in his theory of politics will be rendered meaningless if on April 30 the majority of factions in the DPR issue the second memorandum, as it will be impossible to obstruct the scheduled MPR special session, no matter how many of his followers manage to enter Jakarta.

I'd like to advise Gus Dur not to continue his conflict with the DPR, rather, he had better follow the DPR's and MPR's constitutional efforts so that he will be remembered by the nation as a supporter of the Constitution, and as the nation's wise leader.

H MUSA AFFENDY

Jakarta