Parties warn of desertion from Cabinet

JAKARTA (JP): Golkar Party and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) threatened to withdraw all their representatives in the Cabinet on Tuesday unless the President gives a satisfactory reason for Monday's reshuffle.

"We might withdraw ministers who come from Golkar. But that's a last resort," Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung told reporters.

"The party has the power to withdraw its cadres," Dimyati Hartono, chairman of PDI Perjuangan faction in the House, told The Jakarta Post separately.

Golkar and PDI Perjuangan each lost a representative in the Cabinet in the latest Cabinet shakeup announced by President Abdurrahman Wahid on Monday. Laksamana Sukardi lost his job as State Minister of Investment and State Enterprises and Yusuf Kalla was dismissed as Minister of Trade and Industry.

When the Cabinet was formed in October, each of the 35 ministers was sponsored by one of the country's political organizations, including the Indonesian Military.

Laksamana was sponsored by PDI Perjuangan chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri and Kalla was sponsored by Akbar.

In contrast, their successors, respectively Rozy Munir and Lt. Gen. Luhut Panjaitan, are known to be close to the President.

Rozy served as secretary to Laksamana while Luhut is currently ambassador to Singapore. Like all military officers appointed to the Cabinet, Luhut is expected to retire from active service.

Abdurrahman, who will swear-in the two new ministers on Wednesday, has said that the reshuffle was needed to ensure greater harmony and synergy among his economic team.

Akbar and Dimyati, however, demanded further explanation for the reshuffle and plan to press the issue when the President meets with the House's leadership on Thursday for a scheduled consultation.

Admitting that the President had the constitutional prerogative to replace his ministers, Dimyati said it was still unethical for him to have done so without consulting their political affiliations.

The reason given -- that the two ministers could not work in the economic team -- was not strong enough to replace them, he said.

"It's the president's job to make the ministers work as a solid team," Dimyati said.

Akbar also blamed the president for the poor coordination among Cabinet ministers.

With the loss of Laksamana, PDI Perjuangan is now represented by Kwik Kian Gie, who is Coordinating Minister for Economy, Finance and Industry and M. Prakosa, the minister of agriculture. Golkar has three remaining representatives including Minister of Manpower Bomer Pasaribu.

Meanwhile, hundreds of students from various universities staged street protests against the President's decision to dismiss Kalla, who hails from Makassar.

Two groups of demonstrators, gathering in front of the Universitas 45 Makassar and in front of the provincial legislative council building on Jl. Urip Sumohardjo, criticized President Abdurrahman Wahid who they said had arbitrarily sacked Kalla.

"Without strong reasons, the dismissal of Kalla is a disgrace," said Abdul Wahab, one of the protesters. Like other protesters, Wahab, who is a Golkar activist, said the President's decision hurt the people of Makassar.

The students expressed their anger by blocking two thoroughfares and setting fire to old tires.

The Makassar students also lamented the dismissal of State Minister of Investment and State Enterprises Development Laksamana Sukardi.

"Everybody knows these two have performed well," Ahmad Jaiz, another protester said. "There are other ministers who are worse than them."

"The President just wants people with high loyalty, instead of those with high quality. This is very dangerous," said Mujahidin, the official spokesman for the students.

In Bali, several intellectuals said they were puzzled at the President's decision to dismiss Laksamana.

"I have no idea why Gus Dur dismissed Laksamana. Why was an honest and credible minister like him axed?" Dewa Gede Palguna, an international law lecturer at the Udayana University asked.

Palguna, who is an MPR member representing the regional faction, said Laksamana had a strong reputation.

"He has a very good image among foreign investors," he said.

Denpasar-based sociologist Putu Suasta said Abdurrahman's cabinet needed more credible, capable and honest persons like Laksamana. "Yet he (the President) dismisses credible ministers."

Suasta said he was surprised that PDI Perjuangan did not try to prevent Laksamana's dismissal from the Cabinet. "Why was there no resistance at all?" he asked. (27/zen/sur/jun)