Interpreting the Constitution

Interpreting the Constitution

What makes it legitimate for Mega (Megawati Soekarnoputri) and
Gus Dur (Abdurrahman Wahid) to retain power is the Constitution.
If Gus Dur performs well the Constitution permits him to remain
in power until 2004. And if Mega should be called upon to replace
Gus Dur in the middle of his term, what would make that
legitimate is once again the Constitution and nothing else.

Unfortunately, this most basic principle is currently under
threat. It appears that various groups are looking for
alternative foundations to base their political calculations. NU
(Nahdlatul Ulama) seems to be trying to find different channels
to support Gus Dur's hold on power, whose legitimacy is
threatened by a second memorandum in parliament. NU appears to be
exploring a new interpretation of the term "conspiring to
overthrow the government", despite the fact that this is already
comprehensively defined in the Constitution.

We fear that if Megawati should ever find herself in a
difficult position, her Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
will also develop its own arguments and interpretations to defend
her. If House of Representatives speaker, Akbar Tanjung and
People's Consultative Assembly chairman, Amien Rais should follow
their example, we must ask ourselves: what basic accord is there
to support our existence as a nation and a state?

It would be most unfortunate if we can never agree on who or
what governs our life as a nation.

-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta