President told to lobby major parties himself

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid should have taken on leaders of political parties himself in the dialog for compromise he has recommended if he wishes that his message is understood, an expert said.

Constitutional law expert Sri Sumantri contended here on Monday that it would be more effective if Abdurrahman lobbied his contenders personally because of a risk of misunderstanding if he spoke through his envoys.

"The President should have talked in person with the party leaders, so everybody knows clearly what compromise he is offering. Nobody can interpret what's in the President's mind," Sri told The Jakarta Post on the sidelines of a seminar on amendment to the Constitution.

Learning from Abdurrahman's erratic behavior, Sri said it was possible that the President would revoke the compromise reached between his representatives and the party leaders.

Abdurrahman has asked Minister of Defense Mahfud MD, Attorney General Baharuddin Lopa, Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security Affairs Agum Gumelar and Coordinating Minister for the Economy Rizal Ramli to hold talks with leaders of major political parties in a last-ditch effort to avoid a possible impeachment hearing at the People's Consultative Assembly.

The Assembly has asked the President to present his accountability speech in a special session scheduled to begin on Aug. 1.

Abdurrahman has repeatedly said that he would only deliver his accountability speech at the end of his term in 2004.

Sri, who is also the rector of 17 Agustus University, also insisted that Abdurrahman comply with the Assembly's order to present his accountability, otherwise the Assembly would have more reason to impeach him.

He suggested the President make full use of the special session to lobby the political party leaders and that his accountability speech would display his commitment to compromise.

"If he (the President) says no, then there will be no more chance of political lobby," Sri remarked.

"The special session could provide the best solution for the current political stalemate."

He asserted that there is no reason for the President to reject the special session because of an Assembly decree stipulating that he could be asked to account for his administration during his tenure.

In Jakarta Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi Shihab said there has been no clearance on what compromise the President is seeking as it should have gone through series of discussions between the President's envoys and the party leaders.

"We are trying to find a solution that would satisfy all parties so that nobody will be placed above another. We do not have a fixed concept of compromise because it should be continually discussed with all parties," said Alwi, who is also a deputy chairman of Abdurrahman's Nation Awakening Party.

Akbar Tandjung, speaker of the House of Representatives who also chairs Golkar Party, reiterated his party's readiness for dialog with the President's envoys.

"Golkar is ready for the negotiation ..., but any agreement reached must be formalized in the Assembly special session," he said on Monday.

He also admitted that he was in the dark about the form of the compromise his party would offer.

"Most importantly we should first meet together to discuss feasible solutions to the political crisis," he said.

He acknowledged that the Assembly would have the sole agenda of asking the President's accountability but said: "We could seek a political compromise benefiting all sides if the President's accountability is rejected."

Asked to comment on rumors that the President would likely issue a decree to dissolve Golkar, Akbar reiterated that his party's existence was guaranteed by law.

"We will call for a hastened special session if the President dissolves Golkar because such an action is against the constitution which guarantees the freedom of association," he said. (27/dja/rms)