Gus Dur seeks compromise to evade MPR impeachment

Gus Dur seeks compromise to evade MPR impeachment

YOGYAKARTA (JP): Minister of Defense Mahfud M.D. sees a ray of
hope in President Abdurrahman Wahid's last-ditch efforts to evade
his possible impeachment, saying that major political parties
have positively responded to the President's proposed dialog.

Mahfud said he had met Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung and the
United Development Party (PPP) chairman Hamzah Haz, and both
agreed to participate in a series of negotiations with
representatives of the President starting on Monday.

"Pak Akbar has expressed his readiness to talk, and Pak Hamzah
has many times said so. Basically the two figures share a similar
thought with us that conflicts should be avoided," Mahfud told
reporters at his house in Yogyakarta.

The President has appointed Coordinating Minister for
Political, Social and Security Affairs Agum Gumelar, Coordinating
Minister for the Economy Rizal Ramli, Attorney General Baharuddin
Lopa and Mahfud to persuade leaders of major political parties to
stop their plan to impeach him in the upcoming special session of
the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).

Asked about the four officials' mission, Mahfud said they
would simply convey the President's view that there was no strong
reason to ask for his accountability.

According to Mahfud, Gus Dur, as the President is better
known, now fully realizes that he has already lost support from
the major political parties.

"But there is a strong impression that the Assembly finds it
difficult to identify specific, justifiable reasons to impeach
the President," Mahfud noted.

The President will be required to present his accountability
speech before the Assembly's special session, slated to be held
in early August.

If the Assembly rejects his accountability speech -- and most
analysts believe the Assembly will do so -- Abdurrahman will
officially be forced from office, and Indonesia will have a new
President.

Nevertheless, Mahfud remains confident that the political
leaders would prefer a political compromise, instead of an
impeachment of the President that would lead to a prolonged
conflict.

"Basically they all have similar views on how to avoid
conflict," Mahfud said.

He played down harsh statements made by politicians at the
Assembly and the House of Representatives (DPR) against the
President in the mass media, saying that they were just for
public consumption.

"It is common practice in politics. But in the end, just
before the special session, hopefully there will be a
compromise," Mahfud said.

Meanwhile, Antara reported that about 200 leaders of pesantren
(Islamic boarding schools) in West Java urged the Assembly to
cancel its special session for the sake of national unity.

"Conflicts, rivalries and all problems must be faced with
wisdom," the ulemas said in their statement, as quoted by Antara.

According to Mahfud, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the country's
largest organization that Abdurrahman used to chair for many
years, was more realistic now than before.

Mahfud said he had met with NU chairman Hasyim Muzadi on
Friday and concluded that the organization was very eager to
maintain Gus Dur as the President, but also acknowledged
Abdurrahman's weaknesses and was ready to accept the reality if
the President's power were reduced.

However, Mahfud did not say how Abdurrahman's supporters,
including NU members, would react if the President were impeached
and eventually forced from office. He said that the matter could
only be pursued within a parliamentary system (one that would
require the position of prime minister and a parliament).

"Frankly speaking, they (NU) have suggested a parliamentary
system and it apparently makes sense. However, it would have to
be approved by the Assembly beforehand," Mahfud remarked.
(44/prb)