Gus Dur's fate pathetic

Gus Dur's fate pathetic

From Rakyat Merdeka

President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid has a lame argument when
stating that the special committees set up by the House of
Representatives (DPR) are illegal because the legal basis for
their establishment was weak and, hence, can be easily revoked.

It is true that the legal basis for Law No. 6/1954 is the
Provisional Constitution of 1950, when the parliamentary system
of government was applied in Indonesia. However, pursuant to the
Constitution of 1945, which was again adopted following the
issuance of Presidential Decree of July 5, 1959, Law No. 6/1954
will continue to be effective until it is replaced. It is true
that Law No. 6/1954 uses the term "an enquette committee", not
the "special committee" but in substance the two terms mean the
same thing, i.e. to make an inquiry. Repeat: to make an inquiry.

Please remember that in 1999, following Soeharto's
resignation, Law No. 4/1999 on the structure and position of the
People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), the DPR and regional
Councils was enacted. Article 35 of this law entitles the DPR and
regional councils to request information from state officials,
government officials or community members, and stipulates in its
sub-articles that any contempt of the House/regional councils
will be punishable with one year in prison.

Sub-article 3 of this article stipulates that the enforcement
regulation is the regulation for conduct of the DPR. Sub-article
5 of article 33 of the law stipulates that the regulation for
conduct of the House regulates the right of the House to request
information from the president and undertake an investigation!

So, Mr. President, the special committee of the house is legal
because it has been established on the basis of this regulation
of conduct.

I'm sorry to say that Mr. President has been erroneously
advised, so that he has a mistaken idea about the legality of the
special committee of the House. Gus Dur's image is now the
laughing stock of intellectuals while his supporters have acted
like beggars at the House pleading, even before one of the New
Order's important figures, that the presidential position be
maintained until 2004.

Mr. Reformist, your fate is really pathetic.

ATILLA GRAZIANI SYAFEI

Bandung