PDI-P to lobby other parties for coalition

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)