Gus Dur's move for reconciliation well received

JAKARTA (JP): Major political parties welcomed on Sunday President Abdurrahman Wahid's invitation to a reconciliatory meeting, but asserted that they would not renege on agenda set for the special session of People's Consultative Assembly.

More specifically, Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung said Abdurrahman should not use the meeting to interfere in the parties' plan to decide on a decree on the delegation of power from the President to Vice President during the Assembly session, scheduled to begin on Aug. 1.

"Golkar is ready to meet and communicate (with the President). We will attend even though the invitation came from the President's ministers," Akbar said on Sunday at the Soekarno- Hatta International Airport here upon arrival from Padang, West Sumatra.

"However, all kinds of political compromise should be made in the special session.

"We need Gus Dur's guarantee that he will not interfere with the Assembly's plan to issue a decree on the delegation of power," Akbar said, referring to the President by his nickname.

Abdurrahman said after chairing a weekly meeting of his own National Awakening Party (PKB) here on Saturday that he would invite all political party leaders to a meeting sometime in the first week of July.

Secretary of the PKB Advisory Council Arifin Djunaedi said that Abdurrahman expected to reach a comprise with his political foes during the meeting.

"It is expected to become a further constitutional mechanism to solve the current political deadlock outside of the Assembly's special session," Arifin said.

Abdurrahman had earlier proposed such a meeting, but was met with negative responses because its purpose was unclear.

Arifin said despite the planned talks with party leaders, the President did not intend to avoid the special session, "which is politically unavoidable."

"Gus Dur is optimistic that all party leaders, including Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri, will respond positively to the invitation," Arifin said reporters. Megawati is also the chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan).

Arifin also gave an assurance that Gus Dur would rule out any horse-trading in the compromise.

Gus Dur had earlier said that he would declare a state of emergency as a last resort to secure his presidency, if a compromise or honorable solution for both him and the House of Representatives could not be reached.

PDI Perjuangan, Golkar, United Development Party (PPP), National Mandate Party (PAN) and the Crescent Star Party (PBB), have planned a similar meeting two weeks ahead of the special session.

PDI Perjuangan Deputy Chairman Roy B. Janis said on Sunday that Megawati would attend if the meeting had a clear agenda to solve the political stalemate.

"As long as it is held for the country's sake and not for that of a certain political group, it is beneficial for party leaders to attend such a meeting," Roy said.

Roy also underscored that the President's invitation will not hamper the party's plan to hold a similar meeting two weeks before the special session commences.

In Yogyakarta, political observer Riswandha Imawan suggested that political leaders in Jakarta take a declaration signed by eight governors in a meeting on Friday night into consideration.

Riswandha said the declaration reflected the voice of the silent majority, who had been affected most by the ongoing conflict among the political elite.

"This also reflects the people's reaction to the political conflicts that have caused disharmony among the people," he said.

Governors of all provinces in Lampung, Bali and Java, with the exception of East Java, agreed on Friday on a concerted move to prevent chaos ahead of the Assembly special session next month. Also witnessing the declaration were provincial military and police chiefs overseeing Java, Bali and Lampung. (44/tso/dja)