Gus Dur told to avoid state of emergency

Gus Dur told to avoid state of emergency

JAKARTA (JP): Ministers and security authorities expressed
hopes on Wednesday that embattled President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur"
Wahid would not declare a state of emergency, as a last resort,
to survive his political life.

Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security
Affairs Agum Gumelar said he was working hard to avoid national
disintegration and any declaration of a state of emergency.

"I'm working hard to prevent unwanted things, such as national
disintegration and the issuance of a decree, from happening on
the eve of the special session," he said, after the opening
ceremony of a short course for regents and councillors at the
National Resilience Institute (Lemhannas) here on Wednesday.

Upon his arrival at Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara for a visit of
East Timorese refugees later in the day, Agum renewed his
apparent concern over the President's threat.

The President said in Christchurch, New Zealand, earlier in
the day that he would declare a state of emergency if his
political foes kept demanding that he account for his turbulent
rule in a special session of the People's Consultative Assembly
(MPR) in August.

Abdurrahman claimed defiantly that the Indonesian Military
(TNI) and public support him and that he will defeat any attempt
to impeach and remove him.

Speaking after talks with New Zealand's prime minister, Helen
Clark, the President tried to brush off suggestions that the
military would not back him if he tried to declare a state of
emergency and rule by decree.

"I know Indonesia. I know what they want. The public as well
as the armed forces are behind me," he told a joint media
conference.

Asked if he would survive an impeachment attempt, Wahid smiled
and said: "One hundred percent."

Clark said before Wahid's arrival that she doubted he would
survive impeachment. Clark said she would focus on officials
traveling with Wahid, saying they would stay in office after the
President was gone.

"His political future looks difficult right now ... the
balance of probability now is that he won't survive" the
impeachment, Clark told National Radio.

"The President probably won't be the president in a little
time," Clark added.

The President has made two warnings over the last two months.
Last week, the President also threatened to call for an early
election if the Assembly forced him to present an accountability
speech in the special session.

Agum cited that his main task was to avoid any situation that
could lead to national disunity.

He said that in his capacity as a minister, he would continue
to give advice that the President needs in formulating good
policies and making the right decisions to cope with the current
problems.

He said, however, that he could not prevent the President from
taking an unpopular decision in regard to the Assembly special
session.

Separately, Minister of Defense Mahfud M.D. denied that the
President had planned to declare a state of emergency if he was
forced to account for his leadership.

"What the President said this morning is not a plan or a
threat but his personal view. I'm hopeful the President will not
take such action because it will certainly kill democracy in the
country," he said, after attending the House's meeting to
deliberate the bill on state defense on Wednesday.

Mahfud said the President should gain approval from all 11
officials in charge of security, political and administration
affairs before declaring the state of emergency.

"There are 11 officials whom the President should consult
with, among others, the coordinating minister for political,
social and security affairs, the minister of defense, the
minister of home affairs and regional autonomy, the attorney
general, TNI commander and armed forces' chiefs of staff and the
National Police chief," he said, adding that the state officials'
agreement to the proposal remained questionable.

Gen. Endriartono Sutarto, the Army chief, said he hoped the
President would not declare a state of emergency and that he
would allow the nation to overcome the political crisis,
democratically and constitutionally.

"Gus Dur is a wise and democratic figure. I hope he will not
take such a decision," said Endriartono, who accompanied Mahfud
at the House meeting.

Meanwhile, Amien Rais, chairman of MPR, said he was convinced
that both TNI and the National Police would not support the
President's proposal of issuing a decree on a state of civilian
emergency.

"So far, both the military and the National Police have
opposed any issuance of the decree because there are no reasons
to conclude that the country is in a state of emergency," he
said.

House Speaker Akbar Tandjung also played down the President's
statement, saying the military and the National Police would not
back the President's wish to declare a state of emergency.

"The President should not use the military and the National
Police to maintain the status quo because, according to the
Constitution, their main task is to defend the country and to
maintain security and order at home," he said.

House factions have also threatened to call for an early
special session if the President declared a state of emergency.
(rms/02/30)