Political leaders meet at Cholil's residence

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A number of political leaders belonging to a loose grouping of Islamic parties, plus some Golkar Party legislators, met at the residence of deputy speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Cholil Bisri on Jl. Kemanggisan Ilir 2B, Slipi, on Thursday evening, with the host denying that the gathering had any political agenda.

Those attending the meeting included former president Abdurrahman Wahid, National Awakening Party (PKB) chairman Alwi Shihab, Justice Party (PK) president Hidayat Nurwahid, Golkar chairman Fahmi Idris, and National Mandate Party (PAN) legislator Fuad Bawazier.

Also joining the gathering were Golkar legislators Rambe Kamarulzaman, Andi Matalata and Theo Sambuaga, and PKB legislators Muhaimin Iskandar, Ali Masykur Musa, Yusuf Muhammad, and Rodjil Gufron.

PAN chairman Amien Rais, who is also MPR speaker, failed to show up.

Legislators and leaders of President Megawati Soekarnoputri's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) were conspicuously absent from the meeting.

According to the host Cholil, the function was merely a thanksgiving celebration that had no political significance.

But a highly placed source who participated in the gathering told The Jakarta Post Thursday evening that the meeting was originally intended to discuss whether or not Megawati should be maintained in office until 2004, the end of her tenure.

The source said they decided not to pursue the topic after Amien Rais failed to show up without giving any explanation.

PAN was one of the Muslim-based political parties that blocked Megawati's bid in the 1999 presidential bid. However it also played a pivotal role in removing former president Abdurrahman Wahid from office in July 2001, catapulting Megawati into the presidential seat.

Almost at the same time, President Megawati was holding a meeting at her residence on Jl. Teuku Umar with Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Indonesian Military chief Gen. Endriartono, and the chiefs of staff of the Army, Navy and Air Force.

No information was forthcoming about the topics discussed at the meeting, which started at around 7 p.m. A source close to the President told the Post that the meeting was called with very little notice.

At the meeting of Muslim party leaders, Fuad Bawazier said the participants had all agreed that Indonesia should hold a direct presidential election in 2004.

"Whatever happens, we will have a direct presidential election in 2004, and any political party that opposes the move will be sidelined, including the PDI Perjuangan," Fuad said.

The PDI Perjuangan has shown great reluctance in supporting a direct presidential election in 2004.