Talks intensify between parties

Talks intensify between parties

JAKARTA (JP): With the People's Consultative Assembly special
session drawing near, the major political parties are preferring
to intensify discussions among themselves than to negotiate with
the envoys of embattled President Abdurrahman Wahid, party
figures say.

Hatta Radjasa, the secretary-general of the National Mandate
Party (PAN), said that more frequent and in-depth talks have been
taking place between the five parties that voted in favor of the
House of Representatives' motions of censure against the
President earlier this year in a bid to draw up a common agenda
in preparation for the aftermath of the special session.

"Besides the House factions' regular meetings, the party
secretary-generals have met several times to consolidate their
political stances during the special session and draw up a common
agenda to prepare for the possible emergence of a new
government," he said here on Thursday.

The five parties are PAN, the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), United Development Party (PPP), Golkar
Party and Crescent Star Party (PBB).

Hatta refused to elaborate on the joint plan but said it would
be brought before a summit meeting of party chiefs in the near
future, possibly next week.

Pramono Anung Wibowo, deputy secretary-general of PDI
Perjuangan, said the date for the meeting between party chiefs
remained undecided pending the confirmation of PDI Perjuangan
chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri's attendance.

The ongoing lobbying, Pramono added, not only involved the
parties' joint stand during the special session but also a common
platform to overcome the political and economic crises.

Abdurrahman has tasked the Coordinating Minister for
Political, Social and Security Affairs, Agum Gumelar, Minister of
Defense Mahfud MD, Minister of Finance Rizal Ramli and Attorney
General Baharuddin Lopa with the job of approaching the major
political parties.

Amien Rais, the chairman of PAN, labeled the lobbying by the
President's team as unproductive and a waste of time. He said the
parties had gained nothing from the negotiations.

"The President's team has never met with me, let alone
approached our party, while the other parties have expressed
dissatisfaction with the team as they have proposed nothing to
break the political impasse. So, it's better to call a halt to
such fruitless lobbying," he said.

Later in the day, Amien reiterated his dismissal of a possible
acceleration of the Assembly special session, saying that the
event would kick off on Aug. 1 as scheduled.

He was speaking after the celebration of the Prophet
Muhammad's birthday hosted by Muslim leader Habib Abdurrahman bin
Al Habsyi at the renowned Kwitang Islamic Center in Central
Jakarta. Also present at the celebration were Akbar, Megawati's
husband Taufik Kiemas and former Indonesian Military chief Gen.
(ret.) Wiranto.

The four prominent figures sat side by side in the same row.
None of them were willing to comment on the rare gathering, which
was also attended by thousands of Muslims.

Syamsul Mu'arif, chairman of the Golkar faction in the House,
said the major faction leaders had agreed to draw up a common
platform covering the political, economic and legal fields to be
implemented after the special session, no matter who the
president was.

Meanwhile, the PKB hailed the talks between the President's
team and the party leaders.

"The team's successful lobbying of party leaders and the
recent decision of the People's Consultative Assembly to prepare
a draft decree on the acceptance of the President's
accountability statement with conditions attached are good omens
for the possibility of political compromise during the special
session," Abdul Kholiq Achmad, deputy secretary of the PKB, said.

Deputy secretary-general of the United Development Party (PPP)
Bachtiar Chamsyah admitted that during the interparty talks his
party was holding out for the nomination of PPP chairman Hamzah
Haz for the vice presidency.

"We are fighting it out by seeking support from other parties,
especially the Golkar Party," he said.

A reliable source in PPP said that the Muslim-based party and
the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) were
in a tug-of-war for the vice presidential post as PDI Perjuangan
would likely nominate Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the former
coordinating minister for political, social and security affairs.
(rms)