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