House formally asks Soeharto to resign
JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives formally asked President Soeharto yesterday to immediately step down for the sake of the nation's unity and integrity.
The decision was made in a meeting between House leaders and the leaders of the four factions: Golkar, the Armed Forces, the United Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).
"All factions understood the grounds provided by the House leaders in asking President Soeharto to step down. They (also) unanimously agreed that a presidential succession should proceed constitutionally," House Speaker Harmoko told a media conference.
He told the packed briefing room that the decision would soon be delivered to President Soeharto.
Harmoko did not elaborate on what he meant by the constitutional mechanism for a presidential succession.
He said the meeting discussed the possibility of calling for an extraordinary session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), which he also chairs.
The Constitution stipulates that the MPR leadership has the authority to summon the President to account for his administration. If it is not satisfied with his answers, the MPR could remove the President.
Soeharto's predecessor Sukarno was impeached in 1967 by the Provisional People's Consultative Assembly (MPRS) at the height of political turmoil. The MPRS appointed Soeharto, then a young Army general, as acting President, and confirmed his position the following year.
Harmoko, in his capacity as House Speaker, asked President Soeharto on Monday to resign "for the sake of the nation's unity and integrity".
His move was quickly scorned by Armed Forces (ABRI) Commander Gen. Wiranto, who said the action had no legal basis.
Gen. Wiranto said the stance represented the collective position of individual leaders of the House but not necessarily of the entire House membership.
Harmoko said the House factions during the meeting yesterday also gave positive responses to the people's demands for thorough reform.
"The House has, therefore, decided to accelerate the reform process," he said.
Harmoko dismissed allegations that the House leadership had acted unconstitutionally. "All our decisions have been made in compliance with the Constitution and the House's internal rules."
Asked about President Soeharto's offer to hold a general election as a prelude for his stepping down, Harmoko said the House would look into the proposal.
PPP faction chief Hamzah Haz separately said the House leadership must now follow up on the meeting's results.
"If the House leaders go to President Soeharto and ask for his resignation, the situation may develop differently," he told reporters. "Only through the President's resignation will we have immediate political reform," he said.
Golkar faction chief Irsyad Sudiro said the statement was genuine and was not made under undue pressure.
"We paid serious attention to the people's demands," he said.
"We will also study the mechanism for the calling of an extraordinary MPR session," he said. (imn)