House to return from recess ahead of schedule

JAKARTA (JP): Major factions in the House of Representatives proposed on Friday cutting short the legislative body's recess, scheduled for March 30 to May 15, because the memorandum of censure issued to President Abdurrahman Wahid is due for review on May 1.

House Speaker Akbar Tandjung said the recess would not hamper the censure process, but it would extend the time frame for the issuance of a second memorandum of censure by about two months.

"We can short cut the recess but it is up to the legislative body and the factions to make proposals on the matter," Akbar said.

Major factions in the House seem to be pushing for a shortened recess.

"We will discuss the possibility first, but it is possible to cut short the recess so we can have a plenary session on the memorandum on May 1," Golkar Party faction chairman Syamsul Muarif said.

He went on to say that because the law requires a second memorandum of censure to be issued three months after the first one, the House should reschedule the recess to meet this requirement.

The House issued the first memorandum on Feb. 1, censuring Abdurrahman for his alleged involvement in two financial scandals. The first scandal involved Rp 35 billion (US$3.6 million) from the State Logistics Agency and the second a $2 million donation from Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.

The President has three months to respond to the memorandum before the House can issue a second memorandum, which the President would have one month to respond to.

One month after the issuance of a second memorandum of censure, the House can then propose a Special Session of the People's Consultative Assembly, which could lead to impeachment.

Earlier, former minister of justice and human rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra suggested during a meeting with Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri the House delay its recess because of the memorandum of censure.

During recesses, which normally last between 30 and 45 days, legislators make official visits to the regions to check on government programs and conditions in the provinces.

Syamsul said there were several options for the House to choose from. He said the legislative body could move forward the plenary session to discuss the President's response to the first memorandum of censure, but added that cutting short the recess was the most likely option.

Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction deputy chairman Meliono Suwondo shared Syamsul's view, saying that given the current political conditions it would be best to shorten the recess.

"But we have to follow the mechanisms of the House's consultative body for rescheduling the recess," Meliono said.

Hatta Radjasa, the chairman of the Reform faction, said official visits to the regions were important, but due to the political situation the scheduled recess period was too long.

United Development Party (PPP) faction chairman Alimarwan Hanan said his faction would opt for more extreme measures, and had already decided to push for issuing a second memorandum of censure before the recess begins on March 30.

"We have decided to push to issue the second memorandum before the recess, because we have still not seen the President give any response to the (first) memorandum," Alimarwan said.

The National Awakening Party (PKB) faction, which is a staunch supporter of the President, has chosen not to get involved in the matter.

"Just leave it to the mechanisms of the House's consultative body," faction chairman Taufiqurrahman Saleh said.(dja)