Legislators go on the attack again

JAKARTA (JP): The wave of recriminations against President Abdurrahman Wahid further increased on Tuesday when a petition signed by 151 legislators was submitted, charging that the President had violated the State Guidelines.

Legislators submitted their petition to a plenary session of the House of Representatives here on Tuesday and proposed the use of the House's right of opinion on the matter.

While the use of such a right of opinion may not have immediate formal consequences for the President, it would further blemish his record at a time when he is required to make an accountability statement.

It is especially timely given that Abdurrahman's embattled presidential future seems to be hanging in the balance, with the prospect of a second memorandum against him drawing nearer.

The proposal was officially submitted by United Ummah Sovereignty (F-PDU) faction legislator Mudahan Hazdie who charged that Abdurrahman had violated three laws and five decrees of the People's Consultative Assembly.

"The House considers President Abdurrahman Wahid had verifiably violated the State Guidelines established by the Constitution and Assembly decrees," Mudahan, who was speaking on behalf of the 151 legislators, told the plenary session.

Mudahan also noted that plans to propose the use of the right of opinion had also been mentioned to the House speaker on Nov. 29.

He claimed that based on the presidential oath, as stipulated in the 1945 Constitution, which requires the President to faithfully implement the law and other regulations, the President's actions can thus be considered a violation of the Constitution.

The President was deemed to have violated three laws: No.4/1999 by refusing to explain to the House the dismissal of two economic ministers in April; No.23/1999 by interfering with the Central Bank in demanding its Governor Sjahril Sabirin resign; and by condoning acts of anarchy and violence when he suggested demonstrators protest and pelt former president Soeharto's residence, while police were instructed not to intervene.

Assembly decree violations included Abdurrahman's proposal to revoke Decree No. 25/1966 on the banning of Communism, and for dismissing and appointing in October a new National Police chief without consulting the House as required by Decree No. 7/2000.

Abdurrahman was further charged with failing to faithfully carry out Decree No. 11/1998 on eradicating corruption, collusion and nepotism, particularly in delaying legal proceedings against three business tycoons -- Prajogo Pangestu, Marimutu Sinivasan and Sjamsul Nursalim -- suspected of these practices.

The President was also said to have violated Decree No. 8/2000 in neglecting national security by not paying serious attention to conflicts in areas such as Aceh and continuing his foreign tour despite the bloody ethnic clash in Central Kalimantan last month.

Abdurrahman was also alleged to have failed in implementing a decree on the delegation of power to the Vice President.

"We hope the House can make a decision on this proposal to save the Indonesian nation and state from the threat of destruction," Mudahan said in closing his statement.

While the legislators mounted their political attack on the President, some 1,000 supporters of Abdurrahman gathered outside the House compound to demand the House revoke its memorandum against him.

House Speaker Akbar Tandjung who later met the protesters in response to their demand said: "You can do anything to me, but I can't revoke the memorandum."

Elsewhere, in Surabaya, East Java, ulemas from the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) law making body Pengurus Syuriah said they would meet to discuss punishment for those opposing Abdurrahman, who chaired the Muslim organization for some 15-years.

Chairman of NU's East Java chapter, Ali Maschan Moesa, said the meeting of ulemas would take place in Malang on April 4.

"NU members and supporters have been waiting for clear guidance to deal with those opposing Gus Dur," Ali said.

Some ulemas have suggested actions against Abdurrahman were rebellious, or bughot. "Logically such action must be confronted. NU supporters want firm guidance and direction." (nur/sur/dja/ylt)