House to invite G-15 leaders on May 30

JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives (DPR) plans to invite leaders of the Group of 15 (G-15), due here at the end of the month for a summit, to a House plenary session which will decide whether to proceed with an impeachment process against President Abdurrahman Wahid.

Speaking to reporters in the West Sumatra capital of Padang, legislator Irwan Prayitno of the Reform faction said on Sunday that the plan was proposed by a People's Consultative Assembly committee.

"The response from the House has been positive and details of the plan are being worked out," Irwan was quoted by Antara as saying.

Irwan was quick to add that the invitation was "not meant to humiliate the President", but to provide an opportunity for the world leaders "to directly witness the country's political process".

"They so far have only been able to follow the events from the media, so hopefully, by their presence, they will be able to have a more balanced understanding," Irwan was quoted as saying.

The summit of the G-15, which groups Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Venezuela and Zimbabwe, is scheduled for May 30 and May 31.

Irwan's statement came as legislators earlier in the week refused to bow down to the government's demand that the May 30 plenary session be rescheduled. (byg)