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)