House refuses to budge on G-15 summit

House refuses to budge on G-15 summit

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid faces possible
international embarrassment when he hosts a G-15 summit later
this month after legislators on Thursday refused to reschedule a
key plenary session which could spell a vote of no confidence
against his administration.

The House of Representatives' Consultative Body after a
meeting here refused to change the date of the plenary session
which falls at the same time as an international summit of the
Group of 15 (G-15) scheduled for May 30 to May 31.

The Consultative Body took the view that the House plenary
session to determine the next step in the memorandum process must
proceed according to the guidelines which stipulate that the
censure must be responded to exactly one month after its
issuance.

House deputy speaker A.M. Fatwa, who chaired the meeting,
later told journalists that "all factions agreed with the
decision."

The National Awakening Party (PKB) and the Love the Nation
Democratic Party (PDKB) at an earlier meeting agreed to oppose
the decision.

The government had initially asked for the plenary session to
be moved back a few days due to the summit meeting.

The May 30 plenary session could see the House calling for a
special session of the People's Consultative Assembly which could
determine the fate of the presidency.

Reform faction Chairman Hatta Radjasa pointed out that the
provisions of Assembly Decree No.3/1978 on memorandums of censure
and the timing of plenary sessions left little room for
interpretation.

"It (a delay) would also violate Article 105 of the House's
standing orders which states that the plenary session can only be
postponed for 24 hours and no more," Hatta said while arguing
that both events could be held simultaneously.

Separately, Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi Shihab said the
government regretted the House's decision.

"But many of the heads of state and heads of government have
confirmed their attendance, so we'll go ahead," Alwi told The
Jakarta Post by telephone.

All 17 member states of the G-15 will send a representative to
the meeting.

According to the foreign ministry, leaders from Algeria,
Colombia, Jamaica, Malaysia, Nigeria, Senegal, Venezuela and
Zimbabwe have confirmed their attendance while Brazil, India,
Iran and Argentina will send their second-highest ranking
executives.

He stressed that the timing of the summit was "an
international commitment which has been agreed upon since last
year."

Meanwhile, political observer Kusnanto Anggoro acknowledged
that the plenary session could put Abdurrahman in a very awkward
position as he hosts the international dignitaries.

Instead, he suggested that the government reschedule the
summit.

"The government shouldn't force the summit to be held during
that same period. It would make it appear as if they are trying
to win international support when they have already lost ground,"
Kusnanto told the Post. "It's like inviting guests around when
the house is on fire," he remarked. (dja)