Week-long power vacuum looms: Expert

JAKARTA (JP): The deputy chairman of the Justice and Unity Party (PKP) warned of the uncertainty which would exist during a one-week legislative power vacuum when legislators will vacate their seats a week ahead of the installment of new ones.

"Anything could happen in that one week," Sutradara Ginting said, referring to the end of the current legislators' term on Sept. 24 before new legislators are installed on Oct. 1.

"If it's possible, the installment and swearing in of new legislators should be done on Sept. 24 to avoid a legislative power vacuum," he said in a discussion organized by the young intellectuals forum Bincang Bincang on Saturday.

He said that with the delay of the nomination of the regional and interest groups of the MPR members, the executive arm would be the only power holder during that one week period.

In reality, the judicial arm has always been in the shadow of the executive arm, he said.

"Behind Habibie's seemingly ideological and idealistic motives lurk numerous interest groups with a potential to seize power. So we have to design a contingency plan to anticipate any possible events during that week," he said without elaborating.

Ginting said a peaceful transfer of power could not be delayed otherwise the nation would be left with the two possibilities of either a military takeover or one by the power of the people.

Other speakers in the discussion included Ali Mansyur, Monica Tanuhandaru and Yahya Cholil. (06)