Legislators split over committee

A'an Suryana and Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

With just four days left before Monday's crucial House of Representatives plenary session, the largest party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) remains split over a proposal to set up a special committee to investigate the high profile case involving House Speaker Akbar Tandjung.

A top PDI Perjuangan executive Noviantika Nasution admitted on Wednesday that the party had yet to reach a common stance on the idea, which was proposed last year by 50 legislators, mostly from the National Awakening Party and PDI Perjuangan factions.

"Wait until Monday, when the party will announce a collective position," said Noviantika, a close confidant of PDI Perjuangan chairwoman President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

The 500-member House of Representatives will vote next Monday on whether to form the special committee, which will look into Akbar's involvement in the misuse of Rp 40 billion from the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) in 1999.

A similar committee was formed last year and was instrumental in the ouster of former president Abdurrahman Wahid.

Akbar, who also chairs the Golkar Party, has been named a suspect in the Bulog case.

A PDI Perjuangan source revealed on Wednesday that the party was divided into two camps, roughly along the lines of the power struggle between old and new faces.

The older group is led by Roy B.B. Janis, who heads the party's faction at the House. Arifin Panigoro, who maintains close ties with Golkar, is the moving force behind the newcomers camp.

"The long-time party members pushed for the establishment of the special committee, while the newcomers opposed it," the source told The Jakarta Post.

Roy has repeatedly asserted that such a committee would positively influence the legal process, which often lacks transparency and is prone to political maneuvering.

Jacobus Kamarlo Mayongpadang, another PDI Perjuangan executive, conceded that negotiations between his party and Golkar continue prior to Monday's House plenary session.

PDI Perjuangan has named Jacobus, Arifin and secretary general Sutjipto to hold talks with Golkar members Fahmi Idris, Theo Sambuaga, Rambe Kamarulzaman, Freddy Latumahina, Agung Laksono and Slamet Effendy Yusuf.

Jacobus admitted that the latest meeting between representatives of the country's two largest parties took place last week at the Hotel Regent in South Jakarta.

"Golkar asked for PDI Perjuangan's help in retaining Akbar as the House speaker by opposing the plan to form a special committee," said Kamarlo, PDI Perjuangan's deputy secretary general.

Hajriyanto Tohari, a Golkar figure, confirmed the ongoing lobbying by his party, not only with PDI Perjuangan but other parties as well.

Hajriyanto said that the team had met with Sutjipto and Amien Rais, the chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN) and People's Consultative Assembly speaker.

Jacobus said the Hotel Regent meeting failed to bear fruit, but Golkar and PDI Perjuangan did agree to meet again this week.

Meanwhile, Hajriyanto warned that a committee to investigate Akbar would merely destabilize the political situation. "If the legislators continue the plan to form the committee, this will create a broader impact. There will be an increase of political tension," he warned.

He asserted that the establishment of such a committee would threaten the relative peace created by the recent political moratorium agreed upon by several parties. The agreement stated that they would work to maintain the current government until the elections of 2004.

"There is a growing amount of solidarity within the party now, because the fate of Golkar is identical with the fate of Akbar," he claimed.

Separately, the Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) joined the chorus of criticism against Megawati's government for its lackluster efforts with regard to corruption eradication.

"Megawati should heed the advice of Amien Rais that cooperation between parties to conceal corruption is just not on," ICW coordinator Teten Masduki said.

Teten added that Megawati, "Has so far squandered an opportunity, with her power and vast popular support, to eradicate corruption."

The anitcorruption activist said he smelled a political compromise between Megawati and Akbar that would enable the House speaker to evade investigation by a special committee.