PDI-P urges MPR to hold snap special session

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)