Gus Dur warns of 'politicization' by MPs

Gus Dur warns of 'politicization' by MPs

By Budiman Moerdijat

CAIRO (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid said on Saturday that
Indonesia's newfound freedom had been "politicized" by a number
of legislators to undermine the authority of his leadership and
the country's unity.

In a statement distributed to journalists during the
presidential flight from Abu Dhabi to Cairo, Abdurrahman said
that "several legislators have been politicizing things to
undermine the government and this could lead to the
disintegration of the nation".

Abdurrahman, as usual, did not name anyone, but the House of
Representatives' memorandum of censure on Feb. 1 for his alleged
involvement in two financial scandals was directly mentioned in
the statement as a clear attempt to undermine his presidency.

The President, who is on a two-week trip to Middle East and
North African countries, went further by saying that statements
from unnamed foreign and domestic experts on Indonesia, conveyed
recently during a seminar organized by USINDO (the United States-
Indonesia Society) in New York, were also attempts to weaken his
government.

No elaboration was given by Abdurrahman.

"In this respect, I therefore call on the DPR and MPR members,
high ranking officials, experts and the general public not to be
manipulated by this politicization," Abdurrahman said.

The statement came as Abdurrahman is under pressure back home
to step down after he was censured by the DPR for two financial
scandals.

Abdurrahman is in Cairo to attend the third summit of eight
developing nations (D-8), scheduled to be opened on Sunday.

Abdurrahman is also scheduled to hold bilateral talks with
Egypt President Hosni Mubarak on Monday.

The D-8 Forum, which was established in Istanbul in June 1997
by former Turkish prime minister Necmettin Erbakan, groups
Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan
and Turkey.

The member countries last met in Dhaka two years ago.

In a 33-point declaration issued in Dhaka, a copy of which was
obtained by The Jakarta Post, the member countries "reaffirm that
the D-8 Forum will be consistent with the relevant resolutions of
the UN General Assembly on Economic and Technical Cooperation
among developing countries and on the strengthening of South-
South Cooperation.

"The D-8 is a forum of functional cooperation which would
exploit the elements of comparative advantage, complementarity,
economies of scale and a commonality of interest so that real
benefits can accrue to our peoples," the declaration said.

Earlier in the day, Abdurrahman met with the United Arab
Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Zayed Sultan Al Nahyan.

Foreign Minister Alwi Shihab later told reporters that during
the talks, Abdurrahman had expressed Jakarta's intention to
export helicopters and airplanes to UAE.

"This issue is well taken by the UAE government," Alwi said.

Abdurrahman, the minister said, also called on the UAE
government to make investment in infrastructure projects in
Indonesia.

The Indonesian President also thanked the UAE for its US$4
million worth of humanitarian assistance to Indonesia, Alwi said.