MPR ready for snap special session

JAKARTA (JP): Leaders of the People's Consultative Assembly made preparations on Thursday evening for a snap special session, calling on members to be ready to convene here at short notice.

"The convening of the special session is only a matter of hours, no longer days, away," Amien told journalists, after attending a meeting of Assembly leaders and faction leaders of the House of Representatives.

"So I warn Assembly members to be alert during the coming days...please don't fall asleep," he added.

All Assembly members were instructed to make immediate preparations to come to the capital. Those who were already here were barred from leaving town.

Assembly Faction chiefs were also instructed to contact their members as part of these preparations.

The sudden acceleration of activity was spurred on Thursday afternoon by news that President Abdurrahman Wahid had instructed the arrest of Police Chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro, whom the President had dismissed.

The Assembly is set to convene a special session on Aug. 1 to seek the President's accountability. If the accountability is rejected, Abdurrahman could be removed from office.

Abdurrahman has thus far been defiant and warned that he would impose a state of emergency and dissolve the legislature if they seek his accountability.

Several factions have proposed that the special session be hastened from its current schedule. During a meeting on Monday the Assembly agreed to hand the Assembly leaders the prerogative to call a plenary session to convene a snap special session.

Amien has also warned that if the President imposes a state of emergency the Assembly could convene a special session within a matter of days.

Also present, accompanying Amien on Thursday, were Nazri Adlani of the Interest Group faction, M. Husni Thamrin of the United Development Party (PPP) faction, Soetjipto of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) faction, Matori Abdul Djalil of the National Awakening Party faction, Ginandjar Kartasasmita of the Regional Representative faction, and Lt. Gen. Hary Sabarno of the Indonesian Military/Police faction.

Representing the House factions were Arifin Panigoro and Julius Usman of the PDI-P faction; Achmad Sumargono of the Crescent Star Party faction; Syamsul Muarif, Fahmi Idris, Freddy Latumahina, Rambe Kamarulzaman, Daryatmo of the Golkar Party faction; Alvin Lie of the Reform faction; and Mudahan Hazdi of the United Ummat Sovereignty faction.

"Assembly leaders have concluded that Gus Dur's (latest) maneuvers are a threat to the safety of this country and is driving it to disintegration," Amien remarked.

"What has been going on in our National Police is only one example of his confused decision making."

Amien urged the President to cease making further controversial and politically risky moves, as they would only aggravate the situation further.

He also called on the general public to remain calm and entrust their elected representatives to resolve the political impasse in a constitutional manner.

Earlier in the day, House Speaker Akbar Tandjung once again insisted that despite having "furtively" met Abdurrahman on Tuesday, he had made no compromises and that his party, Golkar, would stand by its support of the decision to convene a special session.

"No one has ever said that the meeting (with the President) would affect the special session. As I have said before, the special session must be held to find a solution to this political deadlock, in order to find that solution we could meet one another in an informal manner," Akbar remarked.

Later on Monday, PDI Perjuangan Chairwoman and Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri underlined that there was no choice but to convene a special session, given the President's actions over the past few weeks.

"It is not a sudden decision, it is not a reactive decision," Megawati said.

Earlier in the morning, while in Yogyakarta, Amien further signaled that room for compromise to save Abdurrahman's presidency had vanished despite the President's apparent attempts to meet and sway Akbar and PPP chief Hamzah Haz.

"The two (Akbar and Hamzah) are old hacks, they are experienced politicians who won't easily change the agenda of the special session," he told reporters, after opening the national meeting of Muhammadiyah's Tabligh Assembly at Yogyakarta Muhammadiyah University.

Amien also stressed that the meeting of the three figures was informal in nature.

"Like in a boxing match, they (Akbar and Hamzah) were just clinching their rival to prepare for the real bout at the special session."

Without elaborating further, Amien said he was assured that Akbar and Hamzah would not "betray" the agenda agreed by legislators.(dja/tso/44)