Call for early session

By Amit Baruah

SINGAPORE, JUNE 15. Stung by the Indonesian President, Mr. Abdurrahman Wahid's decision to open corruption probes against top politicians and other moves made by him, five major political factions have demanded that a special session of Parliament to impeach the President be brought forward.

At present, the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) is to meet on August 1 when it is almost certain to begin impeachment proceedings against Mr. Wahid.

Representatives of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the Golkar party, the United Development Party, the Reform faction and the Crescent Star Party (PBB) were today united in their call for expediting the MPR session.

The leaders cited the replacement of several Cabinet Ministers, his ``sacking'' of the police chief and the decision to probe charges of corruption against top politicians, including the Golkar leader, Mr. Akbar Tandjung, as reasons to bring forward the session. The association of the PDI-P of the Vice-President, Ms. Megawati Sukarnoputri, in making this demand is significant. The Vice-President, who will replace Mr. Wahid in case he is impeached, has so far been careful in following Constitutional procedures in toppling the President.

However, Mr. Wahid's latest moves seem to have left no choice for the PDI-P, the largest single faction in Parliament, but to join other parties in demanding a rescheduling of the MPR session.

The President, meanwhile, has announced that he plans to visit Australia later this month as his country remains gripped by political tension.

His decision to travel abroad at this juncture, specially to a country with which Indonesia has ``delicate'' relations, has come under considerable criticism. Mr. Wahid, one of the world's most travelled Presidents, seems to be cocking a snook at Parliament by announcing that he will, finally, visit Australia - a tour which has seen several postponements.

In another significant move, the Wahid Government has declared that it will not be implementing a 30 per cent increase in fuel prices which was scheduled to take effect today. The decision not to go ahead with the steep hike is aimed at appeasing popular opinion.

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Section  : International
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