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