Megawati still refuses to talk about political compromise

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) Chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri will only discuss a political compromise to end the current political crisis in the country after she receives an official offer.

"I don't want to discuss anything about political compromise," Megawati was quoted as saying by the party's deputy secretary, General Pramono Anung.

Speaking to journalists after the party's weekly meeting on Tuesday, Pramono said that PDI Perjuangan will not have any stance on the idea because there has not yet been any official offer regarding compromise.

He said that the party will continue with the constitutional process of the memorandum of censure, adding that it will not do anything to change the Constitution simply for temporary political interest.

A constitutional compromise was reached in the People's Consultative Assembly annual session last August, when the President agreed to share power with the Vice President. This is stipulated in the Assembly's Decree No.8/2000 and Presidential Decree No. 121/2000 on the delegation of power.

But the compromise does not work.

"So why do we have to discuss another similar idea, which still remains unclear," Pramono said.

House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung contended on Tuesday that he was only trying to seek a better solution with minimal risk for the country. He said the power-sharing scheme should have been discussed further by all political parties.

"Since the President has rejected the idea, then we have to continue with the constitutional process of the memorandum of censure until the special session of the Assembly. The indications are clear that the House and the public are not satisfied with the President's answer," he remarked.

Meanwhile, political and law experts dismissed such political compromise, saying that not only is it against the Constitution, but it would not be a solution to the political deadlock.

Sri Sumantri, a constitutional law expert from the University of Padjadjaran in Bandung, said the Constitution does not regulate the proposed separation between the head of state and that of the government.

"The Constitution must be amended first if the House's proposal for such a power-sharing scheme between the President and the Vice President is accepted.

"The second point is whether the President will voluntarily hand over his authority as head of government to Megawati," he said in a seminar on Tuesday.

Maswadi Rauf, a political expert from the University of Indonesia, said the best alternative for all sides was for the President to resign voluntarily.

"The political compromise will not solve the main problem that he is no longer able to carry out his presidential tasks. The President is expected to continue his unpredictable behavior, including making controversial statements, if he remains in power," he said.

He warned that the President would have the likelihood of being impeached by the People's Consultative Assembly if he declines to step down voluntarily.

"It is better for him to step down voluntarily because it will not disappoint his supporters and he will win public support if he then plays his role as a guru," he said.

He said the President should not discredit the Vice President who he said was unable to carry out presidential tasks, due to the fact that the Vice President was able to tackle the day-to- day administration as stipulated by the Assembly decree and presidential decree on the delegation of power.

"Gus Dur is different to Megawati, who has strong political support in the legislature," he said. (rms/dja)