Megawati silent on 'compromise'

Megawati silent on 'compromise'

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan) remained aloof on the likelihood of a new power
sharing deal, despite speculation that they would be the main
benefactors of a revamped executive.

Leading party figures over the weekend were indifferent when
asked about a possible political compromise currently being
solicited by House of Representatives Speaker and Golkar Party
Chairman Akbar Tandjung.

PDI Perjuangan legislator Taufik Kiemas, who is also the
husband of party chairperson and Vice President Megawati
Soekarnoputri, said in Palembang, South Sumatra, that he would
not share his thoughts on the matter.

"Sorry, I do not know about the power sharing scheme. If Bang
Akbar was the one offering such a deal maybe you should ask him,"
Taufik said on Sunday.

Megawati herself, who was with Taufik, remained tight-lipped
and merely smiled when journalists asked her to comment.

The Vice President was in Palembang to visit state-owned
fertilizer factory PT Pupuk Sriwijaya and state-owned oil company
Pertamina's refinery in Plaju, some eight kilometers from
Palembang.

The idea of a political compromise rose to the fore as the
legislature grew increasingly disgruntled with the leadership of
President Abdurrahman Wahid.

Most legislators have expressed increasing skepticism at his
leadership following his reply to the House's memorandum of
censure.

The mood at the legislature seems to be heading for a second
and third memorandum thus raising the likelihood of a special
session of the People's Consultative Assembly and presidential
impeachment.

Akbar last proposed such a compromise as a possible way out of
the political deadlock. He suggested that a special session be
held to hammer out an Assembly decree to regulate an increased
executive role for the Vice President.

Constitution

PDI Perjuangan Deputy Secretary General Pramono Anung told The
Jakarta Post on Sunday that the party would accept a change in
the 1945 Constitution to accommodate the power sharing idea
simply for the benefit of short-term political interests.

"We should never forget that sharing power between the
president and vice president as the head of state and head of
government would lead us to change the constitution as we've
never acknowledged such a separation," Pramono reminded.

He underlined that as an idea, it is acceptable to elaborate
the power sharing idea, but nothing should be done to violate the
Constitution.

Pramono said rather than a political compromise his party is
likely to concentrate more on the government's spirit of reform
to eliminate corruption, collusion and nepotism.

"So for the current political condition, we are still
discussing the President's answer before we take other steps. We
have formed a team consisting of eight people to appraise the
President's answer," Pramono said.

The government's position on the idea of a power sharing
scheme also remains somewhat unclear. On Saturday the President
rejected the idea saying that it would be an unconstitutional
move.

However, on Sunday, Minister of Defense Mahfud MD said that
Abdurrahman might accept the idea if the Assembly first amends
Article 4 of the 1945 Constitution which states that the
president is both head of state and head of government.

Akbar when he proposed the idea last week stressed that it can
only work if the President is willing to delegate his power for
political compromise.

However, Akbar admitted that it was his personal idea and so
far it had only received very limited response from House
factions who currently seem more preoccupied in issuing the
second memorandum for the President over the two financial
scandals he is allegedly involved in.

Golkar party faction chairman at the House Syamsul Muarif told
the Post that his party had formed a team to appraise the
President's answer and would not give further comment over the
any possibility before appraising the answer.

"We have to discuss the answer first before determining our
party's stance over the matter," Syamsul said.

The National Mandate Party (PAN) issued a political
recommendation on Sunday, that all kinds of action to find
a political solution in the country should be done according to
the Constitution and involve all political power in the country.

"All political decisions should be taken in a constitutional
manner," PAN Secretary General told the Post after the meeting.

He stressed that holding an Assembly special session to find a
collective solution should be the main measure to end the
political crisis. (deja/33)