More demonstrations for special session of MPR

YOGYAKARTA (JP): Two hundred youths rallied at the local legislative council here yesterday demanding a special session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) to replace President B.J. Habibie.

Representing six organizations, including the Indonesian Moslem Students Movement (PMII) and the Indonesian Christian Students Movement (PMKRI), the youths said they rejected the transfer of the 1998/2003 presidency from Soeharto to Habibie.

They blasted Habibie's administration as lacking a legal basis because the MPR had yet to revoke its appointment of Soeharto and Habibie as president and vice president respectively.

"We still demand Habibie step down, and Soeharto to be brought to a special MPR session (to account for his leadership)," one of the protesters said.

They called on the MPR to establish an "independent presidium" -- a transitional government which would establish new political laws and organize a general election.

The young people were met by legislators Khairuddin and Herman Abdurrahman.

They dispersed peacefully after the demonstration.

In Jakarta, 20 student representatives from two universities -- 17 Agustus University in Jakarta and Patimura University in Ambon -- came to the House of Representatives to meet with leaders of the Golkar and Armed Forces factions.

The two delegations held separate discussions with the faction leaders on reform and the need for a MPR special session to elect a new president.

The students also demanded that government officials and former officials be audited for their personal wealth.

Slamet Effendy Yusuf of Golkar agreed that a special Assembly session could be conducted, but doubted the body could come to a solution given the many conflicting stances concerning the legitimacy of Habibie's appointment.

He also said he doubted a general election could be held in a manner that would satisfy pro-reform groups.

"We can't be sure the elections would solve problems. No one knows, but maybe we should come to a compromise," he said.

"The debates among constitutional law experts (over Habibie's legitimacy) also add to the confusion," Slamet was quoted by Antara as saying.

He promised the House would eventually reach a conclusion to all of the debates and adopt measures that would satisfy the people's aspirations.

Debates over Soeharto's resignation and transfer of office to Habibie last Thursday, continued, with some observers saying that only the MPR had the authority to appoint a new president. Others also questioned the fact that the transfer took place at the State Palace instead of before the People's Consultative Assembly plenary.

Others have argued that Habibie's ascension to power was legitimate given it was conducted before the Supreme Court and because it met a constitutional stipulation that if a president becomes incapacitated, the vice president must take on the presidential duties until the term of office is completed.

In Surabaya, dozens of East Java ulema and Moslem scholars called on Moslem youths not to demonstrate in order to prevent further unrest. However, even as the call was made, hundreds of students from the PMII rallied at and later took over the provincial legislative council building.

Call

The students said they would not leave the site until the MPR held a special session.

The same call was made by Frans Seda, a former cabinet minister, when he spoke to reporters yesterday after meeting with Habibie at the Bina Graha presidential office.

"The government should immediately call for a special MPR session to address society's growing demands, especially those concerning economic issues," he said. "Our ... problem now is whether the government can restore trust in the economic sector. It can only be done through a special MPR session."

The National Commission on Human Rights said separately that the government, pro-reform elements and the House of Representatives should concentrate on providing people with adequate basic needs rather than becoming preoccupied with political matters.

The government, however, should establish commissions for national reform and clean government, the rights commission said in a statement signed by, among others, deputy chairman Marzuki Darusman and deputy chairwoman Miriam Budiardjo.

The commissions are needed to restore the confidence of both local and international communities on the government, the rights body said.

"The government needs to establish policies on the direction of the nation, which reflects the spirit of reform, and based on the aspirations of all groups in society," it said.

"In addition, the government needs to professionally develop good relationships with the international community," the rights body said.

Lawsuit

A group of 52 lawyers and legal counsels filed a class action suit at the Central Jakarta District Court yesterday against the 1998/2003 MPR and all of the body's legal products.

Led by senior lawyer R.O. Tambunan, the group said the MPR membership was invalid, and that all of its products should therefore be nullified.

The group said 575 of the 1,000 Assembly members could not be considered legitimate because they had not been fairly elected.

Seventeen other members, they said, were also illegal because they represented the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) faction under the chairmanship of Soerjadi -- whose legitimacy was still under court consideration.

MPR decrees on several issues, including the appointment of Soeharto and Habibie as president and vice president respectively, should also be nullified, they said. (23/44/swe/prb)