To interrupt or stay silent, that is the crucial question

By Imanuddin

JAKARTA (JP): The 1988 and 1993 general sessions were both marked with interruptions -- a detestable action according to the political elite.

Faction leaders at the People's Consultative Assembly, therefore, have over the past few weeks taken various measures to make sure that this General Session runs smoothly and without any signs of dissent.

Regarding the election of the president and vice president, for instance, the ruling Golkar organization stipulated that all members had to sign their support for the nomination of Soeharto and B.J. Habibie before the session began. Other faction leaders threatened to dismiss members who dared to vote against Habibie.

While the interruptions in the 1988 and 1993 sessions occurred without warning, it seemed that this year's precautions were driven by the threat of dissension which had been felt for some weeks.

The so-called threat became most clearly manifest in the form of individual Assembly members supporting the unofficial vice presidential campaign of senior economist Emil Salim.

The Golkar faction has virtually closed its door in Emil's face, followed by its allies the regional representatives and Armed Forces factions. It is unlikely that the other factions would even consider Emil as a nominee to run against Habibie.

However, there was considerable speculation that individual members might disagree and interrupt the session in order to air their own views on the subject.

Whether they do so or whether they don't, the picture that emerges is that the current Assembly leaders are so intolerant of differences in opinion that they are ready to crush any sign of dissent.

The Assembly's internal rules allow an interruption on matters of technicality. For instance, a member may interrupt proceedings in order to seek clarification, to correct an improper implementation of procedures, or to call for a break.

The last interruption occurred in the 1993 General Session, when Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) legislator Sabam Sirait protested to then Assembly speaker Wahono because the latter failed to include PDI-sponsored debates on electoral reform on the meeting's agenda.

The interruption was dismissed, however, as Wahono had banged the gavel before Sirait managed to approach the podium.

In 1988, Brig. Gen. Ibrahim Saleh of the Armed Forces faction interrupted the General Session to air his opposition to the nomination of Sudharmono for the vice presidency.

Sudharmono was duly elected vice president, while Ibrahim was later dismissed from the faction.

Doom

Despite its increasing momentum, Emil's campaign is considered doomed to fail. Two Golkar members -- Albert Hasibuan and Indra Bambang Utoyo, have both stated support for Emil.

However, not many people believe there would be any Assembly members brave enough to interrupt a session and go against their party's line.

Golkar chairman Harmoko, Armed Forces faction leader Lt. Gen. Hari Sabarno and United Development Party (PPP) Secretary-General Tosari Wijaya have all said interruptions are unwanted and unnecessary as the Assembly's five factions have agreed on all issues to be endorsed during the General Session.

"I have repeatedly said that we, Golkar, have renominated President Soeharto and chosen B.J. Habibie. There are no other names, and I believe all Golkar cadres will comply with the organization's line," Harmoko said.

He denied that such a warning would discourage democratization, saying that Pancasila (the state ideology) democracy placed the deliberation to reach an agreement as its top priority.

"Different opinions are welcomed, but once a decision is taken, everybody has to comply with it," he said.

"What's an interruption for when it is clear that a faction has already reached a decision. It (an interruption) will only be an undisciplined action," Hari Sabarno said, adding that the Armed Forces (ABRI) headquarters might consider punishing any dissenting legislators in its faction.

The PPP's MPR faction chief Jusuf Syakir and his PDI counterpart, Buttu R. Hutapea, were also confident their members would throw their full weight behind Habibie.

The leaders of the two minority factions said opposition to the decision to support Habibie would be considered a violation of the statutes of the respective political parties.

Jusuf and Buttu also played down the possibility that any of their team members would interrupt the Assembly's proceedings.

The chairman of Golkar's business wing Kosgoro, Bambang W. Soeharto, said that he had instructed all the organization's 80 Assembly members not to plow their own furrows during the General Session.

"We are not crazy enough to go against Golkar's decision on the vice presidential nomination," Bambang recently told a media conference.

Indra Bambang Utoyo and his PPP counterpart, Khofifah Indar, Parawansa said it would be impossible for the legislators to interrupt the proceedings in the Assembly.

Indra, who has been widely described as one of Golkar's potential dissenting legislators, said: "It's impossible to interrupt something that has been decided so solidly."

"Golkar legislators are selected cadres, who completely understand the organization's regulations," he said, adding that he previously supported Emil's vice presidential nomination, but changed his mind after Golkar formally named Habibie.