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)