Mega changes plans due to 'emergency'
JAKARTA (JP): Due to an "emergency situation" in the capital, Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri canceled a weekend trip and returned to Jakarta late on Friday night.
Megawati, who is also chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), rushed back to the capital from Singapore at midnight on Friday and held several meetings in Jakarta on Saturday.
"Ibu Megawati had to fly back home due to heated sociopolitical developments in the capital which required her presence. She has to hold several coordinating meetings due to the situation," PDI Perjuangan deputy secretary-general Pramono Anung told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.
Megawati also canceled her plans to attend the party's 28th anniversary in Negara, some 100 kilometers west of Denpasar, where thousands of her supporters had filled the streets, parading with red-and-black decorations.
She is also likely to cancel her trip to Malang, East Java, on Sunday to attend another celebration for the same event.
"We are still trying to rearrange the schedule so that Ibu can make it to the anniversary, but there will be a Cabinet meeting on Sunday, so she might not make it to Malang," Pramono added.
Tension mounted on Friday evening following widespread reports of a strong possibility that President Abdurrahman Wahid would order a state of emergency in the country and dissolve the House of Representatives.
Despite strong disapproval from senior Indonesian Military (TNI) officials, the President was alleged to be desperate to take the measure and avoid his potential impeachment should the House call on the People's Consultative Assembly to hold a special session following the two censures already issued against 0him. 0 Unconfirmed reports also said that Abdurrahman would replace Army Chief of Staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto and Army Strategic Reserves Command Lt.Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu, removing opposition within the military to his plan to issue the state of emergency decree.
A party executive told the Post that Megawati arrived in Jakarta at 11:30 p.m. on Friday due to the reports and had conducted a series of meetings at her official residence until 3 a.m. on Saturday morning with senior TNI officials, including TNI chief Adm. Widodo A.S..
"On Sunday, Ibu will hold another series of meetings with politicians and her party to anticipate all possibilities over the coming days," the legislator said.
The party's executive further said that the planned Cabinet meeting on Sunday would further discuss the issuance of a presidential decree declaring a state of emergency, requiring Megawati's attendance.
It is unusual for a Cabinet meeting to be held on a Sunday. Cabinet usually meets every Thursday, with meetings led by the Vice President.
The President will not attend Sunday's meeting as he is scheduled to leave for Gombong, Central Java, on Sunday morning for a "working visit", according to Presidential spokesman Adhie Massardi. (dja/zen)