House unmoved by calls to halt censure process

JAKARTA (JP): The two largest factions in the House of Representatives said on Sunday they were unswayed by an appeal from the government not to issue a second censure against President Abdurrahman Wahid.

Speaking separately to The Jakarta Post on Sunday, the deputy secretary-general of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), Pramono Anung, and the chairman of the Golkar Party faction in the House, Syamsul Mu'arif, asserted there would be "no surprise decision" on Monday.

"Our faction believes there is no reason at all not to issue the second memorandum (of censure) as we agreed to during a party meeting last week," Pramono said.

Both PDI Perjuangan and Golkar, which between them hold 273 of the 500 seats in the House, were on Sunday night completing the statements they will deliver during the House plenary session on Monday.

Pramono said the final draft of his party's statement would "take into account the welfare of the country".

He said the party's faction in the House accepted the government's call for a halt to the memorandum process, but had ruled out the possibility of changing its stance.

This was made clear by PDI Perjuangan chairwoman and Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri last week following a meeting with the Crescent Star Party (PBB) chairman Yusril Ihza Mahendra, who is one of the President's fiercest critics.

"Our party's stance is clear. We will support the constitutional process .... ," Pramono said.

Sources told the Post the PDI Perjuangan's 19-page general view would be read out by Dwi Ria Latifa.

The party will deliver its evaluation of the President's performance over the last three months, according to Article 9 of the 1945 Constitution on the presidential oath and People's Consultative Assembly Decree No. 11/1998 on clean governance.

Golkar was finalizing its general view on Sunday night at the Dharmawangsa Hotel in South Jakarta. The party's top officials, including chairman Akbar Tandjung, deputy chairman Marzuki Darusman and Syamsul Mu'arif, were all present.

Syamsul said the party would not change its stance. "We will likely support the issuance of the second memorandum," he said, adding that the government's call to halt the process had not swayed Golkar's position.

"The call from the government has nothing to do with the memorandum process. It can be considered as an attempt at intervention on the part of the government because the decision is up to each faction," Syamsul said.

Golkar reportedly will deliver a 13-page general view underscoring clean governance and the President's alleged abuse of power.

Late on Sunday, a presidential spokesman said President Abdurrahman had no engagements on Monday so he could closely monitor the proceedings in the House.

"There is nothing on the President's schedule on Monday. He just has to follow the developments in the legislature," presidential spokesman Wimar Witoelar told the Post in a telephone interview.

Wimar also denied suggestions that Abdurrahman, who is under pressure to resign over his erratic leadership and alleged involvement in two financial scandals, was intent on appearing before the House on Monday.

"There has never been any intention of going there ... he (Abdurrahman) will be following (the proceedings) from the palace."

Meanwhile, Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Mulyono Sulaiman said that despite the much-anticipated plenary session of the House, there were no indications of any major rallies planned for Monday.

"Based on our latest intelligence information, there will be no rallies on Monday, including by those who claim to be from pro-Gus Dur groups," Mulyono said, referring to the President by his nickname. The police chief was speaking at the Hilton Hotel following a coordinating meeting with his subordinates.

However, Mulyono said the police would take precautionary measures by deploying a large number of police officers inside and outside the House compound.

He said about 4,000 police officers would be deployed inside the House compound, and between 8,000 and 10,000 officers would be stationed at five strategic areas near the House and in the capital. These areas are the Taman Ria flyover, Pulau Dua restaurant, the Manggala Wanabhakti building, the Senayan shooting range, state-owned TVRI television station and the National Monument (Monas).

Police will also provide protection to legislators traveling form their homes in Kalibata, South Jakarta, to the House.

Mulyono said the House Secretariat would send buses to Kalibata to pick up the legislators, and police would escort the buses to the House. (02/dja/byg)