Lawmakers warn Megawati against political ploy

Lawmakers warn Megawati against political ploy

JAKARTA (JP): Legislators warned Vice President Megawati
Soekarnoputri on Friday that she might experience a similar fate
to incumbent President Abdurrahman Wahid if she joins the parties
aimed at toppling the embattled President.

Tjetje Hidajat Padnawinata, legislator of the Justice and
Unity Party (PKP), accused the Axis Force, which supported Gus
Dur in the 1999 presidential elections, of being behind the plot
to unseat the President by exploiting his alleged involvement in
two financial scandals.

He said the issuance of the first memorandum was part of the
legislative body's conspiracy to pave the way for the Assembly to
impeach the President.

"Megawati will be likely to face a fate similar to what Gus
Dur is now facing and there is no guarantee that she will
maintain her tenure until 2004 under such a mechanism," he said.

Aberson Marle Sihaloho, a legislator from the Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), said he was
concerned with Megawati's ambiguous stance regarding the ongoing
ploy to unseat the President.

"Megawati has failed to indicate her response to the efforts
to unconstitutionally topple the President. Her silence has given
an impression that she has ambitions to replace Gus Dur," he told
journalists here.

He said Megawati, who is also chairperson of PDI Perjuangan,
should clarify whether she supports Gus Dur or sides with PDI
Perjuangan officials who have joined the coalition of House
factions seeking grounds for an expedited special session of the
People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).

Aberson accused the issuance of the first memorandum, which
may lead to the MPR special session by the end of May, as part of
a series of unconstitutional attempts to topple Gus Dur.

He cited that the efforts began when the President proposed
the revocation of the controversial 1966 MPR Decree which bans
the existence of the Indonesian Communist Party, Leninism and
Marxism, while at the same time proposing the resumption of trade
ties with Israel.

"The two proposals sparked criticism and protest during the
Assembly's annual session last August," he said.

Manasse Malo, of the Love the Nation Democratic Party (PDKB)
faction, said all efforts to bring the President down had gained
no support from the people.

"The majority of people suffering from the crises do not care
about the power struggle among the political elite and are
getting bored with demonstrations that have no relationship with
their real needs," he said.

Meanwhile, Faisal Reza Rachmat, chairman of the Forum of
Democratic Action and Studies (Fosad), said the maneuver to
topple Gus Dur and replace him with Megawati could bring an end
to the latter's political career.

"It is very possible that Megawati will be 'stabbed in the
back' moments after she assumes power, and this will be a bad
precedent for future presidents," he said.

Faisal said Assembly Speaker Amien Rais should remain
consistent with his support for Gus Dur to complete his five-year
term until 2004. (rms)