MPR special session is better

MPR special session is better

From Rakyat Merdeka

I think I have reasons to believe that a special session of
the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) will clearly be the best
way to solve Indonesia's current political, economic and social
crises.

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan)
has denied that it has proposed three conditions for Megawati to
accept the presidency if President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid
steps down or is forced to do so. However, I am of the opinion
that the conditions stipulated, namely (i) there will be no
attempts to oust her until 2004 (ii) there will be no annual MPR
sessions during her presidency (iii) the vice presidential post
be left vacant, are worth considering.

We have to admit that such a prerequisite was discussed
several times by PDI Perjuangan members as well as outsiders in
the framework of discussions anticipating the post-Gus Dur era.

Our economy is weak because the government is ineffective, and
has lost support of the House of Representatives (DPR) and the
people in general. The threat of national disintegration has also
weighed heavily on the economy.

The following conditions would probably help solve our
national problems:
1. The person succeeding Gus Dur should (a) be mentally and
physically sound (b) be a person of integrity (c) be committed to
national interests (d) refrain from abusing his power for his and
his party's interests.
(e) have the support of the majority of the DPR members and the
people.
2. Cabinet reshuffles be conducted in an MPR special session.
3. MPR decrees replace (a) the role of the vice president whose
seat is left vacant (b) the cancellations of MPR annual sessions
during his/her presidency.

Therefore a special session of the MPR is clearly better than
the planned meeting of the four national figures, as proposed by
Gus Dur, that aims solely at national reconciliation.

RIANTO S

Bekasi, West Java