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)