PDI Perjuangan gears up for the special session
PDI Perjuangan gears up for the special session
JAKARTA (JP): The three-day national working meeting of the
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) has been
focusing its discussions on consolidating the party's
cohesiveness in facing next month's special session of the
People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), a senior party executive
disclosed on Friday.
Sophan Sophiaan, the chairman of the party's faction in the
Assembly, said the party was debating its strategy for ensuring
its chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri would replace incumbent
President Abdurrahman Wahid if the special session resolves to
reject his statement of accountability.
During the closed-door sessions, several of the party's
regional representatives have expressed their support for an
impeachment process against Abdurrahman and his replacement by
Megawati, said Sophan.
The meeting also discussed all the possibilities that could
occur during the special session and how to deal with worst-case
political scenarios.
"The recommendations of the working meetings will be reflected
in our common stance and in the PDI Perjuangan faction's reaction
to the President's accountability statement," Sophan asserted at
the Aryaduta Hotel in Central Jakarta, where the meeting is being
held.
Sophan, however, admitted that there were still opposing views
about the future of the President with some arguing that
maintaining the current national leadership was still the most
feasible alternative for the party and the nation.
He did not comment on reportedly sharpening divisions between
newcomers to the party and the party old guard who had struggled
for the party during the repressive regime of former president
Soeharto.
Sophan, who is a well-known film director and actor, played
down these divisions.
"There are differences of views, but I think they are not too
fundamental. And now, after receiving explanations from the
party's national executive board and the factions, we have
reached a solid convergence," Sophan remarked.
Meanwhile, party treasurer Noviantika Nasution also disclosed
that apart from the special session issue, the party was also
discussing the policies to be adopted by a new government under
Megawati so as to overcome the crisis in the economy and the
current security and political difficulties.
"After the special session, we must anticipate the country's
situation," Noviantika noted.
Sophan concurred saying that "it is very difficult for Mega to
the lead the recovery process. So let us carry out the recovery
program together without thinking that the program is only for
our party".
Megawati opened the meeting on Thursday, asserting that the
special session was the only choice for the country in attempting
to end the prolonged national leadership crisis.
Political scientist Cornelis Lay, who is also an aid to the
Vice President, led the discussion on how to anticipate the
changes in social, political and security affairs after the
Assembly's special session.
PDI Perjuangan Secretary-General Soetjipto is scheduled to
close the meeting on Saturday. Megawati is not expected to attend
the closing ceremony. (dja/prb)