House formally asks Soeharto to resign

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)