Indonesia should have impeachment institution

Indonesia should have impeachment institution

JAKARTA (JP): Despite its presidential system, Indonesia could
in the future grant the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) the
right to impeach the president if people no longer trust in his
or her government, says a noted Muslim scholar.

"We should promote the mechanism of impeachment in
anticipation of a force majeure in which the president is
allegedly involved in a major scandal," Nurcholish Madjid, rector
of the Paramadina Islamic College, told a seminar held by Pelita
daily here on Saturday.

The mechanism, he said, does not go against the Constitution
which stipulates that the president serve for five years and be
dismissed only if he or she is considered no longer able to lead
the nation for permanent constraints.

Indonesia's first two presidents stepped down while in power
without precise impeachment procedures. Founding President
Sukarno was dethroned after his accountability speech was
rejected by the Assembly in 1967 and his successor Soeharto
resigned following massive student demonstrations against him and
widespread rioting in 1998.

Nurcholish said it was not necessary now to propose a no-
confidence move against President Abdurrahman Wahid's government
since he has only seven months of tenure.

"The present government should be given an opportunity to
carry out its main duty of defusing the multidimension crisis and
completing the reform agenda," he said.

Demands have mounted for the Assembly to hold a special
session in August to review Abdurrahman's performance. He has
been criticized for his controversial statements, especially his
intention to lift the ban on communists.

Nurcholish suggested that the nation take full advantage of
the ongoing five-year administration of Abdurrahman, better known
as Gus Dur, to lay a platform toward democracy, constitutional
obedience and law enforcement.

"We will stumble in the same way in the next episodes of
government. The same thing will be repeated and it is annoying,"
he said, adding that the intention to replace the president
should not be triggered by disappointment or personal resentment.

Senior politician and former foreign minister Roeslan
Abdulgani agreed with Nurcholish, saying changing the president
would not necessarily help Indonesia emerge from the crisis.

"It's possible to replace Gus Dur with a better person, but I
don't think it is the case. Giving Gus Dur the opportunity to
complete his tenure while persistently providing him with
warnings and criticism is the best way for the good of the
nation," Roeslan said.

Nurcholish acknowledged that Abdurrahman appeared to have
difficulty listening to other people, but suggested that the
President take all criticism positively. "The warnings will save
him," he said.

Corruption

Nurcholish said allegations of corruption involving
Abdurrahman's family and close associates should be investigated
and public discussions allowed.

"It is quite ironic if the government which is entrusted to
fight corruption is involved in graft. Those who are allegedly
involved should prove their innocence in court," he said.

He said Gus Dur's government would certainly collapse if he
takes a deaf ear to the allegations of corruption.

Print media have given prominent coverage recently to
allegations of corruption, collusion and practice of nepotism
involving people close to Abdurrahman.

The President has denied the reports, reprimanded Jawa Pos
daily for taking part in "a conspiracy to topple and discredit
the government" and considered filing a lawsuit against Tempo
magazine for their coverage of the alleged high-profile graft.

A group of 12 Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) senior clerics asked
Abdurrahman on Friday to stay cool and refrain from taking
extreme action for revenge. NU chairman Hasyim Muzadi, who
accompanied the respected clerics, said the corruption report had
been exaggerated because "the President and his family have lived
simply".

Realizing that the President alone will not be able to resolve
the country's crisis, NU plans to hold a meeting between the
country's top figures, including MPR speaker Amien Rais, House of
Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung, and Vice President
Megawati Soekarnoputri.

"Insya Allah, we will invite them to discuss the country's
situation and the ways to resolve our national problems," said
Hasyim. (prb/rms)