Gus Dur vows to defend Constitution
JAKARTA (JP): Politically cornered, President Abdurrahman Wahid returned to a familiar theme on Friday, vowing to take tough measures to defend the Constitution against violations by lawmakers.
Abdurrahman said any violation of the 1945 Constitution, which grants sweeping power to the head of state, must be dealt with "without hesitation".
"It is pivotal that we not tolerate any violation of the Constitution. Therefore, we have to defend our Constitution at all costs," the President said after Friday prayers at the presidential palace's Baiturrahim Mosque.
Abdurrahman could face impeachment proceedings within months, following the issuance of two memorandums of censure by the House of Representatives for corruption and incompetence.
In a thinly veiled threat, Abdurrahman said the 500-member legislature had gone beyond its authority when a House investigative committee concluded in February that he might have played a role in two financial scandals.
"The Constitution clearly stipulates that investigations are the authority of the judicial arm of the government," Abdurrahman said.
The President then went on to deny that he ever had the intention of issuing a presidential decree dissolving the House.
"I have never said that there was any intention to issue such a decree, so it is only being made up by the media," the President said.
Top military brass have said that during a breakfast meeting at the Merdeka Palace on May 5, Abdurrahman expressed his intention to issue a presidential decree dissolving the House.
Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Indroko Sastrowiryono was the latest military leader to confirm the events of this meeting. He said on Thursday that he advised the President to refrain from issuing the decree, as it "will only bring adversity to the people".
Army Chief of Staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto said earlier that dissolving the House would only worsen the already poor relationship between the President and the legislature.
Abdurrahman has repeatedly accused the House of violating the Constitution by conducting an investigation of the two financial scandals.
The President has also maintained that under the current political system, he can only be held accountable by the People's Consultative Assembly at the end of his term in 2004.
He told a gathering of provincial governors earlier on Friday that anyone who wanted to change the government to a parliamentarian system should wait until the Assembly convenes next year and amend the Constitution.
Later in the day, constitutional law expert Harun Al Rasyid called on the Supreme Court to issue "a legal opinion" on whether the memorandums of censure and possible impeachment of the President were legally valid.
However, new Supreme Court Chief Justice Bagir Manan appears reluctant to play a role in the political battle, implying earlier in the day that the Supreme Court would not venture into the political realm.
"The Supreme Court is not a legal adviser to anyone and we will not give any opinions if it is not a legal battle," Bagir said following his swearing-in ceremony at the State Palace on Friday morning. (byg)