Megawati not consulted on Cabinet reshuffle
JAKARTA (JP): Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri was not asked for an opinion on the recent Cabinet reshuffle and will refuse to take the blame for the consequences, her party's executive said on Tuesday.
The deputy chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), Roy B. Janis, told a media briefing that for this reason Megawati found it unnecessary to attend the induction ceremony of three new ministers and the new attorney general at the State Palace.
Megawati presided over the party's regular weekly meeting at its headquarters on Jl. Pecenongan, Central Jakarta when President Abdurrahman Wahid inaugurated the new state officials.
"Ibu Megawati was not involved in the current Cabinet reshuffle, so she will not take any responsibility if there are problems following the decision," Roy said after the meeting.
On Tuesday, the President inaugurated Baharuddin Lopa as attorney general, replacing Marzuki Darusman, and Marsilam Simanjuntak, the current Cabinet secretary, as minister of justice and human rights in place of Lopa.
Also sworn in were Rochmin Dahuri as minister of sea exploration and fisheries, replacing Sarwono Kusumaatmadja, and Budi Mulyawan Suyitno as minister of telecommunications and transportation, who took over from Agum Gumelar.
Megawati ate lunch with all the members of the party's executive board before heading for her official residence on Jl. Teuku Umar at 3 p.m.
Roy dismissed speculation that PDI Perjuangan executives had suggested or insisted that Megawati skip the event.
PDI Perjuangan secretary-general Sutjipto said the party top brass discussed the controversial suspension of National Police chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro and the appointment of his new deputy, Insp. Gen. Chaeruddin Ismail, to take over his daily duties.
"But we did not come to a conclusion on that matter," Sutjipto, who is also the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) deputy speaker, said.
The Vice President also missed the inauguration of Gen. (ret) Agum as the coordinating minister for political, social and security affairs, replacing Gen. (ret) Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Chaeruddin on Saturday.
Chaeruddin's appointment was the latest furor sparked by the President, who declared that Bimantoro had bid for retirement.
Bimantoro looks set to lose his post the same way he obtained it in September last year, when he was picked by the President without the House's consent.
Many believe Abdurrahman's decision may have something to do with his plan to declare a state of emergency status, which will enable him to dissolve the House.
Abdurrahman is due to face an MPR special session on Aug. 1 as demanded by the majority in the House.
Later on Tuesday, PDI Perjuangan executives received activists from the Indonesian Forum for Peace (FID), a non-governmental organization who urged all political parties to create a peaceful environment ahead of the MPR special session.
One of the activists, Mar'ie Muhammad, said the public were confused by the objectives of the special session and that all parties should admit that the session may not be the answer to the problems facing the country.
"An MPR special session is not everything. On the contrary, it may create new problems if we are not careful in dealing with it," former finance minister Mar'ie said. (dja)