Proposal for expedited election wins support

Proposal for expedited election wins support

JAKARTA (JP): The proposal to hold an expedited general
election won the support on Friday of officials of the Nahdlatul
Ulama (NU) Muslim organization and political observer Arbi Sanit.

"The idea to expedite the general election is aimed at
avoiding a political vacuum since the current government has been
unable to perform its daily duties ... and it is Gus Dur's
administration that should hold the general election," NU deputy
secretary-general Masduki Baidlawi told The Jakarta Post,
referring to the President by his nickname.

Earlier on Thursday, NU chairman Hasyim Muzadi suggested that
an expedited general election was necessary to settle the rift
between the executive and legislative branches.

"Holding an expedited general election would allow the
bickering political camps to save face," Hasyim said at the NU
secretariat.

Masduki also said an expedited general election was the only
option to allow the political elite to compete fairly for the
presidency. "Through this fair competition, nobody will get hurt
even if they lose."

Masduki, however, said that Hasyim's statement was a personal
opinion and not the official stance of NU.

"The idea will likely be discussed at the NU plenary session
to be held in Banten next month," Masduki said.

The plenary session, which is expected to be attended by NU's
advisory board and its affiliated bodies and institutions, will
evaluate NU's policies and activities, and discuss the latest
political developments in the country.

Masduki dismissed speculation that urging an expedited
election was a maneuver to prevent Vice President Megawati
Soekarnoputri from taking over as head of state if Abdurrahman
failed to maintain his presidency.

"I think Megawati should not worry that she might lose the
election as she leads the country's largest party," he said.

Similarly, Arbi Sanit said this was the best option to settle
the country's prolonged political crisis.

"But the general election must be held with the district
system, while the president should be elected through a direct
election," Arbi, a political lecturer of the University of
Indonesia, said on Friday.

However, he warned that before a general election was held the
election system must first be improved, saying it would otherwise
waste time and money and trigger a dispute among the people.

"Without improving the whole system, the general election
would only produce political elite of the same quality as the
current leaders," he said.

"But the best way to end the political rift immediately is to
bring all the political elite together to settle the problems of
the country," he said, specifically mentioning Abdurrahman,
Megawati, House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung and
People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais.

"Constitutionally, we cannot impeach the President. So Gus Dur
should stay until 2004," he added.

Separately, some 500 protesters from the Love-the-Nation
Generation and the Betawi Youth Front staged a joint protest at
the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta on Friday,
demanding Abdurrahman resign.

"Abdurrahman Wahid has prolonged the people's suffering with
the unsolved recent ethnic violence, while other political
leaders never consider the interests of the people," Nasruddin,
who led the protesters, said.

He said the government and political leaders had to work to
prevent violence and anarchy in the nation.

"It would be better if President Abdurrahman Wahid, Assembly
Speaker Amien Rais and House Speaker Akbar Tandjung resign if
they cannot provide security for the people," he added.

Nasruddin said his group would stage larger rallies at the
House and presidential palace next week. (01/02/dja)