House dismisses govt's request to call off censure

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)