Wiranto expects violence during MPR General Session

Wiranto expects violence during MPR General Session

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Defense and Security/Indonesian
Military (TNI) Commander Gen. Wiranto warned on Thursday the
prolonged disputes among the political elite would be a potential
source of violence at the General Session of the People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR).

"Many media have made various predictions about the session,
but for me it is obvious that political factors will incite
violence," Gen. Wiranto said in his address to seminar
attendants.

He appealed to all political parties and political groups not
to fish in murky water by deploying their masses if the MPR
session fails to reach compromises in crucial issues.

Gen. Wiranto instead told the party leaders to settle their
dispute before the session began.

"Please respect the session as it serves as the highest forum
to deliberate the nation's fate. It's not a soccer match where we
can involve many supporters," Wiranto said.

Maj. Gen. Sudi Silalahi echoed Gen. Wiranto's statement and
jokingly referred his remark to the deputy chairman of the youth
organization (Pemuda Pancasila) Yorris Raweyai, leader of Islamic
group Furkon H.A. Nazri Adlani and deputy chairman of the Jakarta
chapter of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan) Jacob Nuwa Wea, who were present at the seminar.

"If these three commanders can control their masses during the
MPR session, I can imagine how peaceful the event will be," Sudi
told seminar participants.

Many have speculated that the MPR session will meet with
obstacles due to the unsettled conflicts among the political
elite, while security in some parts of the country is far from
being conducive.

The first part of the session is scheduled to begin from Oct.
1 to Oct. 3 and will resume for the second part on Nov. 1 to Nov.
10.

Calls have mounted to postpone or to move forward the national
agenda.

Minister of Home Affairs Syarwan Hamid reiterated that there
was no need to reschedule the date of the session.

"There is no urgency for that. We will stick to the schedule,"
Syarwan told Antara.

Chairman of the General Election Commission (KPU), Rudini,
also said his commission rushed tasks to finalize the result of
the June 7 poll in order to meet the schedule of the session.

Many have criticized the sluggish work of the commission and
speculated on their intention to delay the session.

"We have no intention to postpone the MPR session. We're
confident that we can complete our work before it begins," Rudini
said.

On the contrary, Zarkasih Nur of the United Development Party
(PPP) said the session should be moved forward to end the present
political uncertainty, which he said resulted from President B.J.
Habibie's troubled government.

"The earlier date will eliminate uncertainty in all aspects
and prevent people from falling victim. The government has lost
the people's trust," he told the seminar.

Political observer Eep Syaifulloh Fatah offered a compromise
and said the session could take place as planned but the priority
of its agenda should be rearranged.

He said the top priority was to appoint the new president to
replace Habibie, who, he said "has failed to rule the country".

In Yogyakarta, law expert Muchsan opposed an earlier date and
said Indonesians were not prepared for an early session.

"It's wrong to think an earlier session will be beneficial for
us. Political parties, KPU and all components of the nation are
not ready," he said.

He said the agenda was important for the country to determine
the fate of the reform process and therefore it should not be
hastily prepared.

Another law expert, Moh. Mahfud from the Indonesia Islamic
University, said the planned date of the session was realistic
and the right time. He said to delay the session would be risky
as it would fuel a chaotic situation.

"Waves of protests will mount as people are anxious to hear
Habibie's accountability speech in the session," he said.

Mahfud also said an early session was feared to bring about
premature preparations which later could result in an
unsatisfying outcome. (swa/44/33/emf)