Lawmakers asked to be in Jakarta
JAKARTA (JP): People's Consultative Assembly speaker Amien Rais has asked all the Assembly's members to remain in the capital from Thursday onwards in anticipation of the possible issuance of a presidential decree declaring a state of emergency.
The request came amid reports that the government's representatives and leaders of the major political parties had struck a compromise to resolve the protracted standoff between President Abdurrahman Wahid and his political foes.
A top executive of the United Development Party (PPP), Alimarwan Hanan, told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday that he, his party leader Hamzah Haz, Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung, Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security Affairs Agum Gumelar and Cabinet Secretary Marzuki Darusman met on Monday night at "a certain place" to discuss the political compromise.
"During the meeting we concluded that the President should delegate full powers to Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri, who would in return accord the President a highly respected position," Alimarwan said.
He refused to elaborate, saying that the proposal would be forwarded to the President.
Alimarwan played down the absence of representatives from the largest block in the Assembly, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), at the meeting.
"It was an ordinary forum to seek the best solution to the ongoing political crisis," he said.
He said the meeting followed separate talks between Abdurrahman and Akbar and Hamzah last week.
"Agum was present yesterday (Monday) on Abdurrahman's behalf after Agum was ordered to follow up on the previous meetings," Alimarwan said.
It remained unclear in what capacity Marzuki attended the last meeting, considering his position as Golkar deputy chairman.
Abdurrahman has repeatedly rejected a full power-sharing arrangement with Megawati, who is also chairwoman of the PDI Perjuangan, saying such a scheme would be unconstitutional.
In the latest display of his determination to keep his power intact, Abdurrahman threatened to declare a state of civilian emergency on Friday at 6 p.m. if the Assembly went ahead with its demand for him to account for his government's performance at the special session.
Amien said on Tuesday that all MPR legislators should be in Jakarta on July 19 so that they would be ready to convene a plenary session as soon as the President declared a state of emergency.
At least 500 Assembly members are already in Jakarta as they are also House of Representatives members. The House is due to recess next week.
The Assembly's secretariat has sent official invitations to all Assembly members to come to Jakarta before July 20.
"Only 127 assemblymen from the interest groups and regional representatives are still in their respective hometowns, but they have been invited to come to Jakarta before July 20," he explained.
He said that some of the 127 assemblymen would check into the Century Park Hotel while the rest would be staying with their relatives here.
"Some of them will be accommodated in low-cost hotels for efficiency's sake because those who have no relatives in Jakarta will continue to stay in the Hotel if the special session is not brought forward to July 20, or if it is held in accordance with the present schedule," he said.
The other participants in the special session will stay in the five-star Mulia Senayan Hotel.
Earlier on Tuesday, seven factions in the Assembly met with the MPR leadership, calling for the special session to be immediately convened if the President declared a state of emergency.
Suwarno, deputy chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction, said the six factions would ask the MPR leadership to immediately take the initiative in immediately convening the special session as the President would have violated the Constitution if he declared a state of emergency.
The six other factions were from the Golkar Party, United Development Party (PPP), Reform, Crescent Star Party (PBB), societal group faction and the Ummah Sovereignty Party (PDU).
Meanwhile, PDI Perjuangan chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri ordered all members of the party's faction to remain in Jakarta from Tuesday onwards.
Megawati also ordered party members to maintain security and order in their respective areas ahead of the special session. They should also refrain from bringing party members and supporters onto the streets during the session.
"All members should restraint themselves and help keep the peace during the special session. The party should work together with the community and keep up solidarity among fellow members," the statement, signed by Megawati, urged.
The party's deputy secretary-general, Pramono Anung Wibowo, also said that faction members from PDI Perjuangan should stay in the capital from Tuesday onwards.
"All faction leaders should stay in the capital from Tuesday for an indefinite period," Pramono said at a press briefing after the party's weekly meeting on Tuesday, which was led by Megawati. (rms/dja)