House awaits Gus Dur's response

House awaits Gus Dur's response

JAKARTA (JP): A day after the House of Representatives passed
a second motion to censure President Abdurrahman Wahid, leaders
of major political parties sent mixed signals on whether they
would proceed with a special session and impeachment hearings.

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan),
the largest faction in the House, indicated that it would wait
for about two weeks before taking a clearer stance on the issue.

Citing instructions specifically from chairperson Megawati
Soekarnoputri, party secretary-general Sutjipto said all party
executives were prohibited from publicly commenting on the
impeachment scenario.

She also ordered her senior party members to retain a low
profile attitude, although many observers and politicians
regarded the party as the key to future proceedings, said
Sutjipto.

"Ibu Mega told us to wait and see what develops over the next
two weeks," said Sutjipto, after attending a weekly meeting at
the party's headquarters on Jl. Pecenongan, Central Jakarta.

When asked directly about a possible impeachment plan,
Sutjipto only replied, "Whether a special session will be held or
not depends on the President's reply to the second memorandum of
censure".

Sutjipto stressed that the point of contention was not merely
the question of the presidential post, but the national
leadership crisis which had brought the nation to an even worse
economic situation.

Megawati's attendance at Tuesday's meeting was the first
public appearance she had made after purportedly suffering from
flu since Thursday.

One of the things to watch out for in the coming fortnight is
a meeting of political party leaders to discuss the possible
steps to be taken.

"We discussed a possible meeting between political party
chairmen to anticipate our next steps," Soetjipto added.

It will be interesting to see whether Abdurrahman and Megawati
stick to their traditional Wednesday morning breakfast meeting at
the Vice President's residence.

The House issued on Monday a second memorandum against the
President, bringing him one step closer to the convening of a
special session of the People's Consultative Assembly and
possible impeachment hearings.

The two largest factions in the House, PDI Perjuangan and the
Golkar Party, threw their absolute weight behind the motion, with
the only noteworthy opposition coming from the President's own
National Awakening Party.

On Tuesday afternoon House Secretary-General Sri Sumaryati
formally handed over the second memorandum to the President.

The one page document had been signed by House Speaker Akbar
Tandjung.

Reply

Meanwhile House speaker Akbar Tandjung, while stressing that
everything now depended on how the President responds, questioned
whether Abdurrahman could significantly improve his performance
within a month.

"I'm not sure whether he could do it," Akbar told journalists
on Tuesday.

Akbar, who is also Golkar Party chairman, said theoretically
Abdurrahman had a chance.

"We can evaluate whether the President is able to improve his
cooperation with the House, reform the management of his
government, or avoid making controversial statements. We also
want to see his reaction over the second censure," said Akbar.

Akbar also said that it would be preferable for Abdurrahman to
respond to the second censure, although the President was not
obliged to do so.

Separately, Assembly speaker Amien Rais, one of Abdurrahman's
harshest critics, said again that the only option left was for
the President to resign.

"Dismissing the President through an Assembly special session
would be very traumatic not only for the country, but also for
him personally," Amien remarked.

So far Abdurrahman has been tight-lipped over the censure,
with aides saying that he was awaiting a report and
recommendations from a team of Cabinet ministers led by
Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security Affairs
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

On Tuesday afternoon the President met with senior Cabinet
ministers to hear their recommendations.

Apart from Susilo, also attending were Defense Minister Mahfud
MD, Foreign Minister Alwi Shihab, Minister of Justice and Human
Rights Baharuddin Lopa and Attorney General Marzuki Darusman.

"The President is now still studying, considering and
pondering his next step and his response to the House second
memorandum," Susilo told journalists after the meeting.

"I think it would be unethical if I disclosed them (the
recommendations) to the media, but clearly, they are all
constructive," Susilo replied when asked about his advice.

Palace officials said state-owned TVRI would air a recorded
speech from the President at 7 p.m. this evening, in which he
would be expected to comment on the censure.(dja/byg/rms/prb)