'It will all over in August'

'It will all over in August'

JAKARTA (JP): Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri gave her
strongest signal yet at what she expects to happen in the coming
months when she said the political impasse gripping the country
would be over by mid-August.

Megawati, touted as a presidential candidate with the
leadership of Abdurrahman Wahid on the ropes, said during a
meeting with the executives of the Association of Young
Indonesian Businessmen (HIPMI) that political stability and
certainty would prevail by the Aug. 17 Independence Day
celebrations.

Association chairman Hariyadi B. Sukamdani said after meeting
the Vice President at Merdeka Selatan Palace on Thursday: "Ibu
Mega did not elaborate, but said Insya Allah (God Willing), all
of the country's problems will be resolved by that day."

The country is bracing for a fiery political conclusion to the
troubled 20-month presidency of Abdurrahman when the People's
Consultative Assembly, Indonesia's highest institution, convenes
for a special session starting Aug. 1.

The Assembly will call for the President to deliver his
accountability speech, which, if rejected, could see Megawati
ushered in as the new president.

Megawati's party, the Indonesian Democratic of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan), has been one of the majority factions leading the
charge to hold a special session.

According to Hariyadi, Megawati also expressed confidence that
the security condition would remain under control in the run-up
to the special session, pointing to the crucial role of the
Indonesian Military (TNI) and her own party executives in easing
possible tensions.

"Insya Allah (God's willing) nothing will happen. I am sure
that TNI is fully aware of their position," Hariyadi said quoting
Megawati, while adding that the Vice President was hopeful the
business community would also remain calm during the key period.

President Abdurrahman has claimed that the legislators'
persistence in holding a special session would provoke clashes
between supporters and opposition forces of the President.

Megawati brushed aside these fears on Thursday.

"The one that can actually provoke riots is the winner of the
general election, but we did not do that and we are always
against any violence," Megawati said, referring to her party who
won about a third of the popular vote during the 1999 general
election.

Cabinet

In another apparent show of defiance, Megawati, who has all
but distanced herself from Abdurrahman's government, skipped on
Thursday the first Cabinet meeting convened since a small
reshuffle saw Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono replaced as coordinating
minister for political, social and security affairs by Agum
Gumelar.

Close aides to Megawati have said that she was not consulted
about the shake-up, which also saw Marzuki Darusman replaced as
attorney general by Baharuddin Lopa.

The President during the three-hour meeting reportedly
instructed Agum to approach party leaders, legislators and other
elite in a bid to reconcile with his political foes.

Agum revealed that he would also approach Megawati in her
capacity as the PDI Perjuangan chairperson.

"I was instructed to break the current political communication
standoff," Agum told reporters at the Bina Graha presidential
office.

Agum inherited from Susilo an executive order to maintain
security amid the anticipated security unrest, which could erupt
in the run-up to the special session.

He also pledged on Thursday to take stern measures in
restoring security and public order, especially in the troubled
provinces of Irian Jaya and Aceh.

Separately during a discussion, Susilo said on Thursday the
Assembly's coming special session must resolve the political
impasse by endorsing a new leader and government.

"The incoming special session must be able to produce a
comprehensive solution for the sake of the nation and the state.
We must first salvage the state above all other things. We will
have a new and effective leader and government," he said during
the book launch of Kedudukan Militer dalam Islam (The Military's
Role in an Islamic Perspective).

Susilo also admitted that Abdurrahman's administration had
failed.

"Not only has it been wasteful, we've also failed to do
anything significant for the people," he said.

He said the coming special session was a good opportunity for
all to come to a common consensus to lift the nation out of its
multidimensional crisis. (dja/rms/prb)