Gus Dur's accountability 'mandatory'

JAKARTA (JP): Leading factions at the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) on the opening day of the special session on Saturday were adamant that President Abdurrahman Wahid present his accountability report on Monday and that his refusal to do so would only hasten his downfall.

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction asserted that the President's accountability report was mandatory under the Constitution.

"The President is expected to use the opportunity given to him to deliver his accountability report on Monday. His refusal to do so will certainly add to the list of his violations," Sophan Sophiaan, PDI Perjuangan faction chairman, said on Saturday night.

If the President fails to present his accountability report, Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri will be appointed president a few days later.

The Assembly has given Abdurrahman 9 a.m. until noon on Monday to present his accountability report.

PDI Perjuangan officials on Saturday said Megawati intended to attend Monday's session in her capacity as vice president, regardless of whether Abdurrahman attended or not.

After convening a plenary session on Saturday morning to seek approval for the acceleration of the special session, the Assembly in the afternoon declared the special session open.

First on the agenda is the approval of a single agenda to seek the President's accountability for his alleged involvement in the Bulog and Brunei financial scandals.

Sophan and fellow PDI Perjuangan faction members Jacob Tobing, Permadi and Sutarto said during a media briefing their party was determined to resolve the mounting political conflict.

"Our faction's stance is that the Assembly, as the country's highest legislative body, must resolve all national problems, mainly the mounting tension between the President and the House of Representatives(DPR," he said.

"The President must accept the Assembly's decision. That is why the President should accept the Assembly's invitation to present his accountability report on Monday," he added.

"The Assembly will certainly revoke the mandate it gave him during the 1999 General Session (if he does not present his accountability report). The next step will then be to appoint the Vice President as the new president and followed by the election a new vice president," Sophan said.

He said PDI Perjuangan, which holds 185 seats in the 700- member Assembly, was ready to talk with other political parties regarding the next vice president.

Separately, the Golkar Party faction also warned that Abdurrahman's failure to present his accountability report would only hasten his downfall.

"If the President is absent on Monday, it shows he does not respect the Assembly. This violation and others will be adequate reason for the Assembly to oust him," Golkar Party's Fahmi Idris said.

On the possible vacant vice presidential position, Fahmi said his party had yet to discuss the matter but was open to compromise with other parties on the matter.

Ali Marwan Hanan of the United Development Party (PPP) faction said his faction had closed the door on a possible compromise with the President, pointing to the appointment of Gen. Chaeruddin Ismail as caretaker National Police chief on Friday.

"He is on the verge of a downfall and most factions are expected to reject his accountability report anyway," he said.

Support

Assembly Speaker Amein Rais had earlier said that Chaeruddin's appointment had triggered Assembly leaders to accelerate the special session from its original schedule of Aug. 1.

During the plenary session on Saturday morning 591 of 600 Assembly members voted in support of an accelerated special session.

Five members of the Societal Group faction rejected the motion and four others abstained.

Deputy chairman of the Indonesian Military/National Police faction Lt. Gen. Hari Sabarno pointed out that the faction's position had been swayed due to its disapproval of Chaeruddin's appointment.

Another faction member Air Commodore Bachrum Razir said, "Our faction supported the accelerated special session because the President is becoming strange and he has ignored the Military's suggestions."

All nine factions during their presentation in the Assembly referred to Chaeruddin's appointment as one of the reasons for their support in convening an accelerated special session.

They feared the appointment would cause friction among police ranks and therefore jeopardize security.

Rambe Kamarulzaman, spokesman for the Golkar Party faction, said Chaeruddin's installment violated Assembly Decree No. 7/2000 on the need for the House of Representatives' approval in appointing and dismissing the TNI and National Police chiefs.

"Chaeruddin's appointment as National Police chief caretaker implies a takeover of the police command from National Police chief Gen. Bimantoro and this action will cause serious friction within the police organization which can threaten stability and security," he said.

Other factions that attended the plenary session were PPP, the Reform faction, Crescent Star Party (PBB) faction, Societal Group faction, the Indonesian Nationhood and Unity faction and Ummah Sovereignty Party (PDU) faction.

Conspicuously absent were the National Awakening Party (PKB) and Love the Nation Democratic Party (PDKB) factions, which boycotted the session in support of the President.

Present, however, was PKB chairman Matori Abdul Djalil who attended the session in his capacity as Assembly deputy speaker. Matori's presence angered his party members and he was suspended as party chief later in the day.

The start of the plenary session was marked by a series of interruptions from regional representatives who demanded the session approve the reinstatement of their faction which was dissolved in the 1999 General Session. (rms)