A Political Compromise Must Be Achieved during the Special Session

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:A political compromise, inany form, must be achieved during the People’sConsultative Assembly (MPR)’s special session that isscheduled for August 1, 2001. Power sharing or thegovernment’s attempt to lobby parliament members isunlikely once it has reached this stage. “The MPR’sspecial session is right before us,” the deputy ofIndonesian Democratic Party for Struggle (PDI-P)’ssecretary-general Pramono Anung said to the pressafter discussions on a draft law for a specialautonomy arrangement for the Papua province held atthe legislature complex in Jakarta today (22/6).

According to Anung, his party has accepted thepower-sharing concept that was offered by the Ministerof Defense Mahfud MD, a member of the president’snegotiation team. However, the government’s decisionto lobby political parties is generally considereduseless as the special session draws nearer. Mahfudhas also suggested that lobbying be undertaken duringthe special session. “We must honor the politicalprocess of the special session,” he said.

In relation to statements made by MPR Speaker AmienRais regarding a lack of clarity on a number of itemsput forward by the negotiation team, Anung said thathe not yet been informed about such details. However, he said, the PDI-P did not consider themeeting between the Coordinating Minister forPolitical, Social and Security Affairs Agum Gumelarand Vice President Megawati Sukarnoputri as apolitical lobby. “They were merely carrying out theirjobs,” Anung said.

Anung added that the PDI-P faction has never suggestedan alternative replacement for Megawati Sukarnoputrias the vice president. “Mbak (sister) Mega need onlyobey the regulations of the special session. Allpeople must honor anyone who is elected by the MPRduring the session,” Anung said.

Anung denied that the PDI-P has now issued softerstatements than previously, as has been claimed by theNational Awakening Party (PKB). “We don’t want toissue strong demands at this point in time. We aremerely joining in the search for a solution to thenational problems,” he said.