Legislators say Gus Dur should honor summons

JAKARTA (JP): The showdown between President Abdurrahman Wahid and the House of Representatives (DPR) looks set to extend as leading legislators insisted on Wednesday that the President should obey a summons by a House special committee in connection with two financial scandals.

House Speaker Akbar Tandjung said that for the sake of the supremacy of law, all citizens, including a president, should heed a House summons.

"I think, if the House officially sends a summons, there is no reason for the people concerned not to appear," Akbar, who is also chairman of the Golkar Party, said.

He said the House had the right to summon people for inquiry as stipulated in Law No. 4/1999 on the composition and status of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), the House (DPR) and regional legislatures.

"In principle the people concerned must appear, except due to medical reasons," Akbar remarked.

The law says those who refuse to obey a summons could face a maximum one-year jail sentence.

On Tuesday, the House's special committee tasked with investigating the alleged mishandling of Rp 35 billion of the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) and a US$2 million donation from the Brunei sultan for humanitarian aid in Aceh decided to summon some 30 people, including Abdurrahman.

After a regular consultation meeting with House leaders later on Tuesday, Abdurrahman said he would give a written answer instead of honoring the summons, saying he could only face a House plenary session.

MPR Speaker Amien Rais backed Akbar's statement, saying that Abdurrahman should honor the summons because the President and the House are equal according to the Constitution.

"I think Gus Dur should appear if the House's special committee summons him to explain Bulog-gate, Brunei-gate and other gates," said Amien, who is also chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN), in reference to the President.

He said the President's refusal to obey the summons was in contempt of the House and would only create new tension between them.

The committee's chairman, Bachtiar Chamsyah, insisted that the committee would summon Gus Dur if witnesses testified against the President.

"If there is strong evidence of Gus Dur's involvement, we will summon him," Bachtiar of the United Development Party, said on Wednesday.

He refused to comment further on Gus Dur's refusal to appear before the committee, saying that it would create public polemic and disguise the substance of the investigation.

Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra defended the President's stance, saying it was not mandatory for the head of state to heed a summons.

"It depends on the President whether to honor the House's invitation," Yusril announced after a hearing with House Commission II for legal and domestic affairs.

Asked about the jail sentence for those who defy a summons, Yusril said the punishment did not apply in this case because the issue was not related to a crime.

"It's not that easy, if not impossible, to execute the ruling," Yusril, who is also chairman of the Crescent Star Party (PBB), said. (jun)