House dismisses govt's request to call off censure

JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives on Friday flatly dismissed a government appeal for them to discontinue measures that could lead to a second memorandum of censure against President Abdurrahman Wahid, saying that the process would proceed as planned.

"Preparations for the issuance of a second memorandum of censure against the President will continue even though the government has officially called on the House not to issue the second memorandum," House Speaker Akbar Tandjung said after receiving Minister of Justice and Human Rights Baharuddin Lopa at his office here on Friday.

Lopa, on behalf of the government, urged the House to use "its wisdom" and not issue the second memorandum of censure in its April 30 plenary session, for political and security reasons.

Akbar and other House leaders who met with Lopa maintained that they were not in a position to accept the government's petition.

"I explained to the minister that what the House is doing is proceeding in line with its internal rules and the Constitution," he said.

Akbar, who is also chairman of the Golkar Party, defended the House's actions, noting that they were in line with the House's control function, as regulated by a 1978 MPR decree.

Although confirming that the process would go ahead, Akbar pledged that, in his capacity as House speaker, he would channel the government's official request to all legislators through their respective factions.

In its plenary session scheduled for Monday the House is expected to pass a second memorandum of censure against the President for his alleged involvement in the Bulog and Brunei scandals.

Asked to comment on the political and security arguments on which the government based its request, Akbar said the House is ready to take any necessary risks.

"Some legislators have complained of terror and intimidation tactics as a consequence of their political stance. But that is the duty of a legislator and he or she must be prepared to take such risks," he said.

Lopa said that, in his meeting with Akbar, the government "asked for the House's wisdom to stop the issuance of a second censure because the Cabinet is concerned about the current situation and wishes to see peace in the country."

"If there is no second memorandum then the country will live in peace," he remarked.

Lopa underlined that the request was endorsed during the Cabinet meeting on Thursday and it was his job to convey the message to the House, while another official conveyed the message to the Vice President.

Later on Friday, Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said that the idea to end the political stalemate came from Lopa during the last Cabinet meeting and the President asked Lopa to discuss the idea with the House speaker.

"The minister of justice and human rights affairs idea encompasses political and legal measures to end the political deadlock, not just between the House and the government, but also among the political elite," Susilo said.

A member of the General Election Commission, Mulyana W. Kusumah, echoed the government's view, saying that handing down a memorandum of censure was not the appropriate measure to appraise the President's performance.

He suggested that the House wait until August, when the People's Consultative Assembly members convene to evaluate Abdurrahman's administration.

Investigation

Akbar also questioned reports that the Attorney General's Office was planning to end its investigation into the two scandals in which the President has been implicated.

He pointed out that all House factions which supported the issuance of the first memorandum were of the opinion that the political process and the legal investigation being conducted into the two financial scandals must be separated.

Akbar stressed that the House would not accept the Attorney General's Office deciding to cease its investigation.

"The Attorney General's Office should not drop the probe unless all suspects, including Gus Dur, are investigated in accordance with the existing procedure," he said, referring to the President by his nickname.

Attorney General Marzuki Darusman recently implied that the investigation into the two scandals would be discontinued due to a lack of evidence. (44/rms/dja)