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)