President told to lobby major parties himself

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)