Megawati still refuses to talk about political compromise
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)