Top leaders to meet in Yogyakarta

Top leaders to meet in Yogyakarta

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid, Vice President
Megawati Soekarnoputri, Yogyakarta's Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X
and People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais are due to
hold a much anticipated "political reconciliation" meeting in
Yogyakarta on Aug. 1.

It has not yet been confirmed whether House of Representatives
Speaker Akbar Tandjung will attend the meeting at the Keraton
Yogyakarta.

Sources said it was likely other "national figures" would be
invited to the meeting, but it had not yet been decided who would
receive these invitations.

In Bandung, Amien Rais said on Friday night "the meeting will
discuss the latest situation on the political, social and
security fronts ahead of the General Session (of the Assembly)".

"The event should have been held this month but Mbak Mega
could not make it due to her tight schedule, so we rescheduled it
for Aug. 1," Amien told journalists.

"I realize the four of us cannot claim to represent all 210
million people in the country ... therefore I hope other
political party leaders such as Hamzah Haz, veteran journalists,
the Indonesian Military commander and students will share their
thoughts with us.

"We hope the meeting can unify all related parties involved so
that the General Session runs smoothly," Amien said.

Amien said he fully supported the National Police chief's
efforts to secure the General Session and urged all parties not
to organize mass rallies to disrupt the meeting.

Separately, sources close to the President told The Jakarta
Post on Saturday the improved political climate following
Abdurrahman's apology to the House had smoothed way for the Aug.
1 meeting.

The President's written answer to the House's interpellation
motion changed the political attitude of all members of the
political elite, especially those from the largest political
parties, the sources said. This has, as of now, made them more
than willing to come to the meeting and begin a new national
reconciliation, they said.

"The upcoming meeting will have the sole intention of calming
the political situation ahead of the General Session," the
sources added.

Participants of the meeting will discuss the future of the
nation and begin to set the vision for total reform in the
country, the sources said. (25/dja/edt)