Habibie takes jeers in stride

Habibie takes jeers in stride

JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie brushed off the jeering
by several members of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) on
Friday by calling it a sign of democracy at work.

It was a double insult for Habibie as he entered the Assembly
hall for Friday's induction ceremony as an overwhelming majority
of members for the first time in three decades refused to even
stand up for the President.

Habibie maintained his composure as he passed Assembly members
with a smile even though boos were heard.

"That is democracy. That's no problem," he said during a
luncheon with senior media editors at Merdeka Palace later on
Friday afternoon.

However, leading Assembly members strongly criticized their
colleagues, calling them uncivilized for jeering the nation's
highest executive.

Abdurrahman Wahid, an Assembly member for the Interest Group
Faction, said such harassment during a solemn ceremony was
astonishing and improper.

"All legislators are free to like or dislike the President,
but they should be aware of their new status as statesmen and,
thereby, they should respect Habibie in his capacity as
President," he told reporters after the ceremony.

Abdul Madjid of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
PDI Perjuangan), who presided over the ceremony, also said it was
improper.

"I must say that it isn't proper for members to conduct such
an unethical action," said Madjid.

Indria Samego, a political observer from the National
Institute of Sciences (LIPI), deplored the President's
defamation, saying it was a childish act.

"I am very sorry to see honorable legislators involved in such
childish actions. From a political ethics point of view, it shows
they aren't suitable to be Assembly members.

"They would also feel insulted if Megawati Soekarnoputri were
president and got similar treatment," he said in an apparent
insinuation that the jeering was by PDI Perjuangan members.

Adnan Buyung Nasution, a noted lawyer, lamented the
legislators' harassment as an uncivilized act.

He said the unbecoming conduct was not only derogatory to the
President as head of state, but also to the nation which prides
itself for its hospitality and ethics.

"I have been a government critic throughout the land, but I
have never done such an uncivilized act," he remarked. (rms)