Megawati gets moral boost from leaders of major parties

Megawati gets moral boost from leaders of major parties

JAKARTA (JP): Leaders of major political parties met on Sunday
at the private residence of presidential hopeful Megawati
Soekarnoputri in Kebagusan, South Jakarta, to give necessary
political support in her fight for the presidential seat.

Golkar Party chairman Akbar Tandjung, United Development Party
(PPP) chairman Hamzah Haz, National Mandate Party (PAN) chairman
Amien Rais, Crescent Star Party (PBB) chairman Yusril Ihza
Mahendra and Justice Party president Hidayat Noer Wahid attended
the meeting.

Dismissed National Awakening Party (PKB) chairman Matori Abdul
Djalil also attended the meeting, although it was unclear which
party he represented.

Another participant of the meeting was the Indonesian Military
and National Police faction chairman at the People's Consultative
Assembly, Hari Sabarno.

After the meeting, Vice President Megawati, the chairwoman of
the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan),
broke her silence and spoke to journalists.

"Today, I held a meeting at my home to show the unity among
political party leaders. This is just a get-together," Megawati
said, before asking Amien to elaborate on the results of the
meeting.

Amien, who is also the Assembly speaker, said the meeting was
aimed at creating a sense of togetherness among leaders of major
political parties ahead of the Assembly special session and to
cement political support for Megawati.

"God willing, the special session will, in not too long a
time, result in a new national leadership.

"We agree to give our moral support to Ibu Megawati so that
her government will be stable, just and productive and can
restore confidence to the people, which has now faded from the
current government," he said.

He further said that the meeting also discussed major issues
that should be prioritized by Megawati if she replaces President
Abdurrahman Wahid, who could be ousted during the special
session.

The major issues that should be addressed soon by Megawati
include threats of national disintegration and how to speed up
the country's economic recovery.

Akbar said that the meeting gave Megawati political support
until 2004 as political stability would be significantly needed
to get the country out of its current hardships.

Later, PDI Perjuangan secretary-general Soetjipto said that
although the guarantee for Megawati to lead the country until
2004 was not explicitly decided on, all party leaders agreed that
it was important to have political stability until that time.

The Assembly has invited President Abdurrahman to present his
accountability speech before the Assembly on Monday, the first
day of the special session.

If the Assembly rejects the President's accountability speech,
as it appears likely to do, Megawati will then be appointed
president.

Political leaders attending the meeting at Megawati's
residence agreed to explore the possibility of postponing the
election of vice president until the Assembly meets in October
for an annual session if Megawati becomes president.

Akbar suggested that the Assembly special session concentrate
only on the President's accountability speech.

"We are considering electing the new vice president during the
Assembly annual session in October," Akbar, who is also the
speaker of the House of Representatives, said.

Amien also said that all political leaders agreed to follow
the constitutional process to elect a new vice president, should
the position be left vacant after the special session.

Soetjipto added that the proposed postponement of the election
of vice president was to avoid public misperception that the
special session would be used as a venue for horse trading among
political parties.

An executive of PDI Perjuangan, speaking on condition of
anonymity, said that the reason to delay the election of vice
president was prompted by the fact that political leaders could
not reach an agreement on who should have the vice presidential
seat.

The official said Akbar and Amien preferred that the position
remain empty until the end of the next government's tenure in
2004, while Megawati was open to the possibilities suggested by
other parties. (dja)