PDI-P asks PAN not to accept compromise outside MPR session
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) stepped up its lobbying efforts here on Friday, wooing the National Mandate Party (PAN) to ensure that no political compromise to the deadlock with the President was reached outside the special session of the People's Consultative Assembly.
PDI Perjuangan member Taufik Kiemas, who is also Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri's husband, attended Friday prayers with PAN chairman Amien Rais and Muhammadiyah chairman Syafi'i Maarif at the Muslim organization's headquarters. After the prayers, the three held talks.
"No, there was no agreement," Syafi'i said. "We were just underlining to each other that the special session is the best way to end the current crisis. God willing, after the special session everything will be OK."
Syafi'i said the discussion after the prayers touched on various political issues and focused more on the possible grassroots conflict that could erupt as a result of the Assembly's special session.
"But we believe that everything will be OK. There will be some (minor) conflicts, but they will end," Syafi'i insisted.
He also said that during the discussion, Taufik underlined that PDI perjuangan would not accept a political compromise ahead of the special session.
"The main point is to hold the special session, as it was planned with an agenda that has been decided on constitutionally," Syafi'i asserted.
President Abdurrahman Wahid may be removed from office during the special session if his accountability is rejected by the Assembly.
If this occurs, Megawati, who is also the chairwoman of PDI Perjuangan, will be named president to replace Abdurrahman.
There have been indications of a possible compromise in the past few weeks, as talks intensified between aides to the President and the Golkar Party, along with the United Development Party (PPP).
Leaders of these two major parties have informally spoken of a power-sharing scheme between the President and the Vice President that would allow Abdurrahman to remain in office.
PAN and PDI Perjuangan were left out of the talks between the major parties, despite assertions from the Golkar Party chief that they were "consulted".
A PDI Perjuangan official told The Jakarta Post that PAN chairman Amien Rais held discussions with Megawati on Thursday at her official residence.
PPP chairman Hamzah Haz was also invited by Megawati to her official residence on Friday afternoon. However, details of the meeting were not disclosed.
PAN secretary-general Hatta Radjasa maintained that the discussion following the Friday prayers were not significant.
"We just talked about the preparations for the special session, nothing more," Hatta told the Post.
On the meeting between Amien and Megawati, Hatta said the two discussed the possibility of moving forward the special session, although they were of the opinion, at the time, that it would be best to stick to the planned Aug. 1 schedule.
PPP secretary-general Alimarwan Hanan said he was not informed of the substance of the discussion between Hamzah and Megawati.
"Maybe they were trying to find the best solution for the country," he told the Post.(dja)