Political parties still ponder fast-track MPR session plan
Political parties still ponder fast-track MPR session plan
JAKARTA (JP): Political wrangling continued as major factions
in the House of Representatives remained aloof on whether they
would seek a fast-track route for the holding of a special
session of the People's Consultative Assembly which could
possibly begin impeachment proceedings against the President.
Most politicians were cautious in their responses, mindful
that circumventing the constitutional process could further fuel
the wave of anarchic protests which have already hit places like
East Java.
While much of the talk on Monday centered around Assembly
Speaker Amien Rais and his meetings which discussed ways to bring
forward the special session, most parties on Tuesday tried to
remain discreet by underlining the constitutional process without
asserting either way if they supported an accelerated process.
The ambiguity of the situation was further underscored as
elements in certain factions seemed to be engaging in endeavors
which could be construed as being contrary to the official party
line.
Pramono Anung Wibowo, deputy secretary general of the
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), claimed
that his party would remain faithful to the process of issuing a
memorandum of censure.
"The party's executive board has just decided to stick to the
constitution in processing the investigation's result," he said
after a meeting which was also attended by party chief Megawati
Soekarnoputri and other party functionaries.
"We won't support an immediate special session because it's
against the constitution."
"According to our party's political stance, the President will
be expected to make the necessary corrections in his government
over the next three months," he said.
Asked about a reported petition initiated by around 100
legislators to urge the President to step down voluntarily,
Pramono said his party did not support it.
"We consider the petition for the President's resignation as
tantamount to negating the legislature's existence. PDI
Perjuangan legislators are prohibited from signing the petition
while those who already signed it are called on to comply with
the party's stance," he said.
Despite Pramono's remarks, the PDI Perjuangan's own House
faction leader Arifin Panigoro along with four other House
faction leaders made highly provocative remarks before students
at the Bogor Agricultural Institute (IPB) on Monday.
"The findings of the special committee proves that from a
moral point of view, Gus Dur has no morals," Arifin charged.
Joining him were Syamsul Muarif of the Golkar faction, Hatta
Radjasa of the Reform faction, Achmad Sumargono of the Cresent
Star faction and Ali Marwan of the United Development Party
faction.
Reliable sources also told The Jakarta Post that influential
legislators from factions supporting the special committee's
findings, were planning to stoke up a moral crusade to force the
President's resignation.
A Golkar Party source said several legislators had held an
informal meeting at the residence of Arifin Panigoro in South
Jakarta on Tuesday night.
"Such meetings have been routine since last Thursday," said
the source.
Another source in the House said several leading legislators
were drafting petitions and organizing mass movements in various
provinces calling on the President to resign.
"A draft petition is still circulating among legislators while
antigovernment demonstrations are expected to be staged in the
provinces in a few days," said the source.
The House, after adopting the special committee report last
week, decided to issue a the President with a memorandum of
censure after they had decided that he was implicated in two
financial scandals.
By law, the House has to issue two more memoranda, which could
take four months, before asking the Assembly to convene a special
session.
Some have claimed that the process is too long and that public
discontent is growing and could spill over into open conflict if
the convening of a special session were not expedited.
Nahdlatul Ulama chairman Hasyim Muzadi, however, said on
Tuesday that a hastened special session would only open new
conflicts at the grassroots level.
Hasyim warned that more destructive actions could occur if
"unconstitutional" measures were taken by the House.
"Moving to expedite the Assembly special session will only
open the door to further conflict among the people," Hasyim
remarked.
Another key faction which could help sway the situation is the
Indonesian Military (TNI)/National Police faction.
The TNI's chief of Territorial Affairs Lt. Gen. Agus Widjojo
said on Tuesday that the TNI would only support a special
Assembly session held in accordance with the Constitution.
"Constitutionally, a special session to summon the President
can only be held after the House has issued two memoranda of
censure. The first memorandum is valid for three months and the
second for a month. We firmly adhere to this process," Agus told
The Jakarta Post by telephone.
Agus was adamant that a special session should not be held
before the House had issued the two memoranda.
Meanwhile, House Speaker Akbar Tandjung on Tuesday said: "the
House is now waiting a reply from the President to the
memorandum. The House as an institution is currently not taking
any steps to hold a special session."
Akbar skirted the question of a special session saying it was
the domain of the Assembly.
"If Pak Amien Rais talks about bringing forward the special
session, then that's his business as Assembly Speaker."
Separately, National Police chief of detectives Insp. Gen.
Engkesman Hillep said on Tuesday that a team of detectives and
intelligence officers had been formed to study the findings of
the House special committee on the financial scandals.
Engkesman said that National Police chief Gen. Surojo
Bimantoro had received the report on Monday evening from Akbar.
He added that if President Abdurrahman Wahid had to be
questioned, then the police would first seek the consent of the
Supreme Court. (02/21/dja/rms/ylt)