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Parliamentarians Ready Wahid's Ouster
by Kazi Mahmood for IslamOnline
KUALA LUMPUR, April 30 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Legislators in Jakarta set the ball rolling Monday for the House of Representatives (DPR) to issue a second censure memorandum condemning embattled Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid.
The show of force on Sunday by Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) supporters did not dampen the DPR's decision to proceed with the memorandum.
The top two factions within the DPR pushed for the issuance of a second Wahid censure for his failure to improve his government's performance.
The Indonesian Democratic Party - Struggle (PDI-P)'s view was conveyed by Dwi Ria Latifa, while that of the Golkar was read by Ibnu Mundzir during a House plenary session held at the legislative assembly building in Jakarta.
The PDI-P and the Golkar together control 50% of the seats in the legislative body. The support of the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the United Development Party (PPP) would be sufficient to push the censure motion forward.
The PPP has promised its support in the move to start the ouster of the president and has also said it would support Megawati for the presidency.
Parliamentarians have urged the president to pay more serious attention to the second warning, which will give him one month to improve his administration's performance, sources said.
However, legislators toned down their language saying the censure does not aim at overthrowing the ailing president, but merely to warn him that he needs to make a serious self-introspection on his attitude. They also said he should be careful when making statements.
Wahid has been blamed for several crises that have erupted between Indonesia and its immediate neighbors. Crises legislators said have cost the country a tremendous amount of credibility and reduced investor's confidence in Indonesia.
House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung said on Monday that despite the possibility of a second censure against Wahid, political compromise between the president and the leaders of the larger political parties was still possible.
Akbar noted that the planned issuance of the second censure was not designed to topple the president, but rather to remind him to improve his performance.
Wahid was reportedly in a relaxed mood, listening to classical music while the DPR debated his mistakes and their future stance. On Sunday he had warned opponents of a nationwide bloodbath if he was forced out of power.
Wahid also said several provinces are ready to split from the Indonesian Republic if he is ousted. He named Java, Madura, Irian Jaya, the Malukus and part of Sumatra as the provinces that would want independence from the Republic.
On Monday, Legislators agreed that Wahid should not make such statements. Some even pointed out that they feared Wahid would lead these provinces out of Indonesia in case he is impeached.
They also berated Wahid's lack of seriousness and his tendency to enjoy the benefits of office while unable to solve the country's multitude of problems.
The House, on February 1st, issued Wahid a memorandum rebuking him over his alleged role in two financial scandals and warned him to improve his government's performance within the next three months.
A second memorandum, which will give him only one month to improve his administration, could lead to his impeachment by the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).
The House is almost certain to issue the second censure of the President. If Wahid cannot convince the House he has improved his performance in the next one-month period, the House will call a special session of the MPR to impeach him.
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