Political leaders meet at Cholil's residence

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.