PDI-P to lobby other parties for coalition

SEMARANG, Central Java (JP): The chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction at the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), Sutjipto, has confirmed that the party is lobbying other political parties to form a coalition, but not to press for an immediate Assembly special session to impeach the President.

"We have to underline that the coalition is not to speed up the Assembly special session nor to topple President Abdurrahman Wahid," Sutjipto said while addressing the opening of a seminar organized by the party's Kebumen branch on Saturday.

He said party chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri, who is also the Vice President, always stresses the importance of complying with the Constitution and that an Assembly special session should only be held through constitutional mechanisms.

"If eventually there should be a special session following the issuance of the House of Representatives memorandum of censure against the President, Ibu Mega, however, will never support the plan to fast-track the special session," he said.

Five major factions have proposed the establishment of a permanent coalition between political parties to support the government against possible political turmoil in the country.

The idea was introduced following the issuance of the memorandum by the House on Feb. 1 censuring President Abdurrahman over two financial scandals. The memorandum could lead to a special session of the Assembly which could see an end to Abdurrahman's presidency.

Many consider the memorandum an indication that the President has lost the House's support to complete his tenure until 2004.

Commenting on the possibility of establishing a permanent coalition with several parties including the loose coalition of the "Axis Force", Sutjipto said PDI Perjuangan intended to maintain the same distance as it does with all political parties.

The Axis Force was the political power that helped pave the way for Abdurrahman to ascend to the presidency in October 1999.

Separately in Washington, political observer Jeffrey A. Winters predicted that Abdurrahman would not survive until the end of his tenure in 2004 as he has lost both national and international support.

"I don't think Gus Dur (Abdurrahman's nickname) will survive because he has almost lost all support from the elite and middle- class people in the country. I also see minimum support from the international community, including from Washington," Winters said as quoted by Antara.

Winters further said that it was possible for Megawati to take the lead as long as the President was constitutionally removed. (dja)