President to reply to House censure on March 28

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid said on Friday that his reply to the House of Representatives censure over his alleged involvement in two financial scandals would be delivered on Wednesday.

"On March 28, I will deliver the reply to the House memorandum," Abdurrahman said after Friday prayers at the state palace's Baiturrahim Mosque.

He said he would only make a short introductory speech and that someone else, to be decided during a limited Cabinet meeting on Saturday, would read out the 16-page document.

The House asked Abdurrahman on Thursday to deliver his reply on March 29.

"I have told (House deputy speaker) Muhaimin Iskandar that the reply will be delivered on March 28 because on March 29 there will be a Cabinet meeting," Abdurrahman said.

Muhaimin said on Thursday that the President's reply would be debated by the House during a plenary session on April 30, after each faction in the House had studied it.

April 30 is the deadline for Abdurrahman to respond to the censure motion, issued by the House on Feb. 1.

A second censure motion could be issued by the House if it deems the President's response to the first memorandum unsatisfactory.

If the reply to the second censure, a month later, is also deemed unsatisfactory, the House can call for the convening of a special session of the People's Consultative Assembly, which has the power to impeach the President.

Abdurrahman said on Friday that he was optimistic the impeachment threat against him would be dropped.

"As far as I know it looks as if it will stop at the President's response," Abdurrahman said.

He called on his supporters not to travel to the capital to protest on the day of his appearance at the House.

"Let's resolve this problem in a democratic way through our existing institutions. We do not have to resort to violence," he said.

Pramono Anung, secretary-general of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, dismissed Abdurrahman's statement that the party -- which has been among those critical of the President -- would ease up its pressure.

"We will remain consistent with our stance...we will await for the reply first before deciding the next step to be taken," he said.

The House censured Abdurrahman after a special committee probing two financial scandals found he may have been involved.

The Bulog scandal was the alleged theft of Rp 35 billion (US$3.5 million) from the State Logistics Agency (Bulog), while the Brunei scandal was the alleged misuse of a US$2 million donation from the Sultan of Brunei.

Defense Minister Mahfud M.D. has said that in the President's response to the censure, Abdurrahman will deny all allegations of involvement in the scandals.

Mahfud and the Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security Affairs, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, have been assigned to prepare the answers for the President. (byg/dja)