President urged to abide by power sharing decree
President urged to abide by power sharing decree
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan) criticized President Abdurrahman Wahid on Tuesday for
his lack of respect for the decree on power sharing with Vice
President Megawati Soekarnoputri issued by himself.
PDI Perjuangan deputy chairman Roy B.B. Janis said after the
party's executive meeting here on Tuesday the decree does not
work mainly because of the President's tendency to breach it.
"Megawati is ready to take over the day-to-day management of
the administration as stipulated by the presidential decree. The
problem does not rest with Megawati but Gus Dur himself as he has
frequently breached the decree," Roy said, referring to the
President by his nickname.
Roy was commenting on Abdurrahman's request to Megawati during
Monday's Cabinet meeting to take more initiatives in the
decision-making process. The issue, perceived by many as a rebuke
to the Vice President, was brought to the party's meeting because
Megawati chairs the party.
The presidential decree was issued to follow up a People's
Consultative Assembly decree endorsed during its annual session
last August.
During the meeting which was presided over by Megawati, Roy
said that the party also called on the President to deliver his
response to the House's first memorandum immediately, in order to
prevent the second one being issued.
"The ball is now in the hands of the President. He should
answer the first memorandum so that the House can evaluate his
government's performance," he said.
Asked about the party's response to the anti-Abdurrahman
demonstration on Monday, Roy said the issue was not discussed at
the meeting.
"We did not talk about any matter outside the state
institutions," he said, adding that students and the people had a
right to air their political grievances.
Roy said that Megawati asked the party's legislators to stick
to the constitution in response to the increasing demands for an
impending MPR special session to impeach the president.
"Megawati reiterated in the meeting, also attended by PDI
Perjuangan legislators, that the party will support a
constitutional succession for the national leadership. This means
we reject the accelerated process of a special session to impeach
the president," he said.
Saul de Ornay, spokesman for the party, said the party would
send a 16-member delegation to the planned meeting of the
coalition of several major House factions in Yogyakarta on
Friday.
The party's team lineup will be decided later, Saul said,
adding that the delegation will leave for Yogyakarta on Thursday
evening.
Sabam Sirait, the party's senior legislator, said that his
faction would come to the meeting, not to support an immediate
MPR special session, but to enhance cooperation with other
factions in seeking peaceful solutions to all problems the nation
was facing.
"Believe us, we will solve all problems, especially the
political crisis, in accordance with the constitution," he said.
(rms)
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan) criticized President Abdurrahman Wahid on Tuesday for
his lack of respect for the decree on power sharing with Vice
President Megawati Soekarnoputri issued by himself.
PDI Perjuangan deputy chairman Roy B.B. Janis said after the
party's executive meeting here on Tuesday the decree does not
work mainly because of the President's tendency to breach it.
"Megawati is ready to take over the day-to-day management of
the administration as stipulated by the presidential decree. The
problem does not rest with Megawati but Gus Dur himself as he has
frequently breached the decree," Roy said, referring to the
President by his nickname.
Roy was commenting on Abdurrahman's request to Megawati during
Monday's Cabinet meeting to take more initiatives in the
decision-making process. The issue, perceived by many as a rebuke
to the Vice President, was brought to the party's meeting because
Megawati chairs the party.
The presidential decree was issued to follow up a People's
Consultative Assembly decree endorsed during its annual session
last August.
During the meeting which was presided over by Megawati, Roy
said that the party also called on the President to deliver his
response to the House's first memorandum immediately, in order to
prevent the second one being issued.
"The ball is now in the hands of the President. He should
answer the first memorandum so that the House can evaluate his
government's performance," he said.
Asked about the party's response to the anti-Abdurrahman
demonstration on Monday, Roy said the issue was not discussed at
the meeting.
"We did not talk about any matter outside the state
institutions," he said, adding that students and the people had a
right to air their political grievances.
Roy said that Megawati asked the party's legislators to stick
to the constitution in response to the increasing demands for an
impending MPR special session to impeach the president.
"Megawati reiterated in the meeting, also attended by PDI
Perjuangan legislators, that the party will support a
constitutional succession for the national leadership. This means
we reject the accelerated process of a special session to impeach
the president," he said.
Saul de Ornay, spokesman for the party, said the party would
send a 16-member delegation to the planned meeting of the
coalition of several major House factions in Yogyakarta on
Friday.
The party's team lineup will be decided later, Saul said,
adding that the delegation will leave for Yogyakarta on Thursday
evening.
Sabam Sirait, the party's senior legislator, said that his
faction would come to the meeting, not to support an immediate
MPR special session, but to enhance cooperation with other
factions in seeking peaceful solutions to all problems the nation
was facing.
"Believe us, we will solve all problems, especially the
political crisis, in accordance with the constitution," he said.
(rms)