Gus Dur says 'no' to House summons

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid cold-shouldered a summons on Tuesday to appear before the House of Representatives (DPR) special committee for questioning over two alleged financial scandals.

On Monday, the 50-member House special committee said it would summon the President and other senior officials over allegations of mishandling of some Rp 35 billion (US$ 4.2 million) at the State Logistic Agency (Bulog) and his acceptance outside government channels of a US$2 million donation from the Sultan of Brunei for humanitarian aid to restive Aceh province.

"I am going to deliver a written answer," Abdurrahman told a news conference after six hours of a closed-door meeting with the House top brass led by speaker Akbar Tandjung at the State Palace.

"I am not a person who can be summoned except by the House plenary session and (the summons) should be concerned with (allegations of) treason," Abdurrahman added, referring to a full sitting of the 500-member House.

Since Abdurrahman came to power last year he has had numerous showdowns with the empowered House, and the threat of another battle is feared to heighten political uncertainty in the country.

Earlier in the day, the House special committee announced it would summon some 30 people, including Abdurrahman, over the two alleged scandals.

The committee remains undecided, however, as to when to call the President, better known as Gus Dur.

Speaking to reporters after the committee's closed-door meeting, head of the committee Bachtiar Chamsyah appeared to be backtracking on the plan to summon Abdurrahman as he said the committee would only question the President if there was enough evidence.

Bachtiar said earlier that the inquiry would also be conducted on Coordinating Minister for the Economy Rizal Ramli, Attorney General Marzuki Darusman, Foreign Minister Alwi Shihab and former industry and trade minister Yusuf Kalla.

Quoting the 1999 Law on the composition and status of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), House and regional legislatures, Bachtiar said all citizens should answer the House summons or face a one-year jail sentence.

Bachtiar admitted that during the meeting, there had been a fierce debate and strong opposition against the plan to summon the President from the National Awakening Party (PKB), which was co-founded by Abdurrahman.

Police chief

The House leaders held marathon talks with Abdurrahman on Tuesday over a range of issues, including last month's dismissal of the National Police chief without consulting the House, the continuing violence in the country's troubled provinces, fears of unrest over the recent 12 percent hike in fuel prices and Abdurrahman's planned visit to Australia.

"The meeting was very open, brotherly and we were critical toward one another," Abdurrahman said after the meeting.

"We hope these meetings can be developed further in a bid to enhance our democratic culture. Needless to say, there were faults on both sides."

Commenting on his decision to replace Gen. Rusdihardjo with Gen. Surojo Bimantoro as national police chief without consulting the House, Abdurrahman said the move was taken to prevent the UN Security Council from sending a mission to West Timor.

The UN plan was made in the wake of the murder of three UN relief workers blamed on pro-integration East Timorese militias in the border town of Atambua on Sept. 6.

DPR said the replacement violated an MPR decree which stipulates that any replacement of the top leaders of the national police and the armed forces should be made in consultation with the House.

Abdurrahman said the decree had yet to have its implementation regulations formulated and therefore he could still act in line with the law.

"I will send a letter to the council (the DPR) to explain to the council what caused me to appoint a new police chief," Abdurrahman said.

Akbar later said that DPR might consider the case settled if the President requested approval for his move to replace Rusdihardjo.

"If, in the near future, Gus Dur says: I will ask for an approval by sending a letter, then maybe the House might consider the case closed," Akbar said.

The President also said on Tuesday that "it remains to be seen" whether he would still pursue his planned visit to Australia.

He noted that "sovereignty" of the country must be taken into consideration before making a trip to Australia.

"It all depends on our own analysis whether they (Australians) have changed their attitude or not ... if there's no change, then we will heed the DPR," Abdurrahman said.

DPR had earlier called on the President to delay his visit to Australia until after Australia's Prime Minister John Howard makes a trip to Jakarta.

The volatile ties between Jakarta and Canberra nose dived last year after Australia led an international force into East Timor in September to halt the violence there after the territory's people voted for independence.

Abdurrahman initially planned to visit Australia in May, but canceled the trip because of resentment in Indonesia over Australia's key role in the breakaway of East Timor from Indonesia. (byg/jun)