Wahid impeachment: special session on Aug. 1

By Amit Baruah

JAKARTA, MAY 31. A special session of the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), which could lead to the impeachment of the President, Mr. Abdurrahman Wahid, will be held on August 1, the MPR Speaker, Mr. Amien Rais, announced today.

``A consultative meeting between MPR leaders and chairman and secretaries of the Assembly's 11 factions has just concluded that the MPR special session will be held on August 1, 2001,'' said Mr. Rais at a press conference.

Though Mr. Rais still held out the prospect of an increasingly unlikely compromise, the MPR move to convene the special session comes hours after the Lower House voted to call it last night.

Mr. Wahid himself refused to take questions on domestic issues at a press conference he addressed at the end of the two-day G-15 summit which concluded in Jakarta today.

However, his Foreign Minister, Mr. Alwi Shihab, told reporters after the G-15 meeting: ``We are not talking about accepting or rejecting the House's decision to ask for a special session. The most important thing is to hope for a compromise.''

``We still have two months....and that means there is plenty of time. A compromise can be reached in an hour.''

It remains unclear what mr. Wahid might do now. He has, so far, shown no inclination to quit office.

Mr. Wahid also threatened to impose a civil emergency which would permit him to dissolve Parliament and, consequently, escape potential impeachment proceedings.

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Section  : International
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