'Mega's Dili trip her prerogrative'

'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.