Megawati must also quit, says Gus Dur

MANADO, North Sulawesi (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid suggested here on Tuesday that he and Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri were a one-package deal thus if he resigns, both have to go.

In his address to thousands of participants of the second Great Minahasa Congress in Tomohon, North Sulawesi, the President asserted that he and Megawati would struggle together to maintain their seat until 2004 because both of them were democratically elected in 1999 to lead the country for a five-year term.

No one should separate the duet just to accommodate new political developments in the country, Abdurrahman insisted.

"If one (of them) leaves, the other must also leave. Therefore in my vocabulary, there is no separation between the President and Vice President. This condition (partnership) must continue until 2004," said the President who received a positive response from the crowd.

"All measures will be taken to maintain the duet," he added.

"Whatever happens, this fact should not be forgotten, as Ibu Megawati and I were elected in a very democratic way," said Abdurrahman.

This was of the few times the embattled President has linked his possible departure directly with the Vice President who stands to become the head of state should the President be ousted by the House.

Abdurrahman, who arrived for a two day stay here on Monday, remained confident that he would survive the coming special session of the People's Consultative Assembly.

Without elaborating, the President also indicated that he would not impose a state of emergency in spite of his repetitive threats to do so.

"I can use my power as a president to do this and that against others, but I will never do it," Abdurrahman commented vaguely.

While in Sulawesi the President visited North Sulawesi and the newly established Gorontalo province.(48/prb)