Power sharing must top agenda: Akbar

JAKARTA (JP): With confusion riding high on the feasibility of proposed talks between members of the country's political elite, House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung suggested on Tuesday that a power-sharing scheme top the meeting's agenda.

Akbar, who also chairs Golkar Party, said acceptance of the power-sharing formula in the meeting would prevent the House from handing down a second memorandum of censure against President Abdurrahman Wahid.

A stand-off between the House and the President has been blamed for the protracted political crisis in the country.

Akbar said major factions at the House looked set to approve the power-sharing scheme, through which the President would hand over the authority to run the government to Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri, who also chairs the powerful Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan).

"If the issue is settled, the House will go ahead with the memorandum process to call for a People's Consultative Assembly special session to formalize the sharing of power between the President and Vice President, instead of impeachment of the President," Akbar said.

Embattled Abdurrahman has ruled out the possibility of adopting such a formula, although he once issued a decree stipulating the division of duties between the President and Vice President last year.

Akbar also said that the proposed meeting should discuss economic recovery.

A source from PDI Perjuangan revealed on Tuesday that the party would bring up the power-sharing formula in the talks.

PDI Perjuangan deputy secretary-general Pramono Anung would not comment on the report, but hinted that Megawati expected that the meeting could at least generate agreement on economic recovery and the political base the security authorities needed to take actions against separatist movements plaguing the country.

"At least Ibu Megawati would agree to talk about these matters," Pramono told The Jakarta Post after an executive meeting presided over by Megawati at the party's office on Jl. Pecenongan, Central Jakarta.

Later in the day Megawati held talks with her counterpart Matori Abdul Djalil of the National Awakening Party (PKB) at her official residence on Jl. Teuku Umar, also in Central Jakarta. No official statement was available on the meeting. Abdurrahman is the PKB chief patron.

Briefing the media after the party executive meeting, PDI Perjuangan secretary-general Sutjipto asserted that Megawati was ready to attend the reconciliatory meeting between members of the political elite which was proposed by Abdurrahman.

"I am ready to talk to anyone, anywhere, any time ... even a group of people," Megawati was quoted by Sutjipto.

Megawati, however, hinted that a clear agenda must be set prior to the meeting, Sutjipto said.

"As for the agenda, it is up to the political figures attending the meeting to discuss ... so it is not only up to us to decide," Megawati said.

Earlier in the day, Abdurrahman said his meeting with top political leaders was aimed at seeking ways to end the country's political stalemate.

"The date has yet to be decided, because everyone is busy, but in principle we have agreed to meet," Abdurrahman told reporters at Bina Graha presidential office.

Presidential spokesman Adhi Massardi said in a statement later in the day that "several aides" had been instructed by the President to decide the time and place of the meeting.

He also said that the main agenda of the meeting would be "to overcome the uneasiness that is gripping the society".

"The agenda's aim of providing stability to the people is part of the key solution to resolving the country's problems," the statement said.

Commenting on reports that PDI Perjuangan had set three terms for her presidency, Abdurrahman said: "Things were twisted by the media".

Reports said earlier that the party had set three conditions for Megawati's takeover. They were a guarantee that she would not be challenged until 2004, a stopping of the MPR annual session and the vice-presidency be left vacant.

Meanwhile, People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais reiterated his support for Megawati to lead the country. Amien hinted that leaders of the Axis Force, a loose coalition of several Muslim-oriented parties, would fully support Megawati's presidential tenure.

"The Axis Force consists of political figures whose words can be trusted," said Amien in Makassar, South Sulawesi, after opening the National Mandate Party (PAN) leadership workshop. (27/dja/byg/rms)