'Mega's Dili trip her prerogrative'

Annastashya Emmanuelle, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Officials of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) said they were not concerned about a bid by some House of Representatives (DPR) legislators to summon President Megawati Soekarnoputri over her recent East Timor visit, asking the legislators to maintain a sober approach on the issue.

Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno, deputy House speaker of PDI Perjuangan faction in the House, said on Saturday that the president, who is also chairwoman of PDI Perjuangan, should not be summoned and did not need to explain each of her policies as it would cloud the president's prerogative.

"If all of the president's policy is questioned, then what about her prerogative? How are we going to implement our foreign policy as good neighbors? I think our friends at the House should contemplate on this as well," Soetardjo told reporters after attending the Pancasila Day commemoration at the PDI Perjuangan headquarters in South Jakarta.

Megawati would as well soon be summoned to explain the existence of the Presidential Aid (Banpres) after she allocated Rp 30 billion (US$3 million) of the funds to renovate military and police housing.

Thus far, 31 legislators from eight of the House's nine factions have submitted a petition to House leaders asking President Megawati to explain her May 19 visit to East Timor to attend its independence ceremony.

Meanwhile, PDI Perjuangan deputy chairman Roy BB Janis asked the House legislators to be more rational in dealing with both East Timor and the Presidential Aid issues.

Roy said his party was not too concerned with the plan to summon Megawati, claiming that those who signed did not represent their respective factions' positions, only themselves.

He said the nation must also stay true to its principle of respecting the other countries' independence.

"I think they (House members) must firstly learn and think about the principles of respecting the independence of a country and about living side by side with neighboring countries.

"Besides, the fact that East Timor is an independent country is a truth that we could not escape," he said.

Asked whether the move could shake Megawati's position as previously happened to then president Abdurrahman Wahid, Roy defiantly challenged those who aspired to do so.

"If there is an attempt to unseat Megawati, her supporters will absolutely stand up for her," he said.