PDI-P urges MPR to hold snap special session
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) ended its three-day national working meeting on Saturday with nine resolutions, including the decision to support an accelerated People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) special session should President Abdurrahman Wahid go ahead with his controversial policies.
"We support MPR leaders in bringing forward the special session, which is currently scheduled to begin on Aug. 1, if we deem that the fate of the nation is being directly or indirectly threatened by the President's policies," the party's board of executives chairman Theo Sjafei told a media briefing.
"We expect the special session to result in a legitimate and effective government, one free from collusion, corruption and nepotism (KKN) and able to bring this country out of its current confusion," said Theo, revealing the party's second resolution at Aryaduta Hotel in Central Jakarta, where the meeting was held.
Accompanying Theo during at the news conference were, among others, the party's deputy chairman Roy BB. Janis, secretary- general Soetjipto, party deputy secretaries-general Mangara Siahaan and Pramono Anung, and party treasurer Noviantika Nasution.
Party chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri did not attend the closing ceremony, as she was in Bogor in her capacity as Vice President for an environmental program.
The party held the meeting amid the bustle of preparations for the MPR's special session to ask for Abdurrahman's accountability report. The session could lead to the President's impeachment.
Vice President Megawati is expected to replace Abdurrahman if the Assembly rejects his accountability speech.
Theo further said that another resolution was that the party give full authority to Megawati, in her capacity as the party's chairwoman, to make any decision, policy or political move during the special session. "But the move must be relevant to the party's recommendation resulting from earlier congresses in Denpasar (Bali) and Semarang (Central Java)."
The two congresses agreed that the party would support Megawati to become the country's president.
No violence
"PDI Perjuangan also warns politicians to avoid violence when seeking solutions to the country's problems. The party also asks MPR members to conduct themselves as statesmen who put the people's interest before their own," said Theo, reading out the resolutions.
"We also ask security personnel, at all levels, to maintain security and order before, during and after the special session," the retired two-star general, who at one time was Udayana Military commander, said.
The party's last resolution was to remind its members in the Assembly to continue to fight for the revocation of Provisional Assembly Decree No. XXXIII/1967 on the withdrawal of (the first president) Sukarno's power from the government. The late president Sukarno was Megawati's father.
After officially closing the working meeting, Soetjipto told reporters that the party had not discussed vice presidential issues should Megawati replace Abdurrahman.
He also said the working meeting did not touch upon the possibility of a compromise being offered by Abdurrahman. "Every party must respect the special session result."
He again boasted of the party's solidarity, playing down rumors of a rift within the party.
"Many say there is friction among our members, both in the House and the Assembly. Please clarify this as I'm quite sure that all of us will remain solid to fight together at the special session," Soetjipto said.
It is feared that friction among PDI Perjuangan members will affect the party's stance over the President's accountability report at the special session, as it is rumored that some 90 of its 134 members at the MPR have been paid to vote to the advantage of Abdurrahman. (tso)