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Indonesian President Says "No Problem" With 2nd Memorandum
Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid said Tuesday he has "no problem" if the House of Representatives (DPR) sent him the second memorandum which would clear the way for possible special session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) in which he might face an impeachment.
Wahid made the statement in response to a move by major factions in the House which has been preparing a draft of the second memorandum to him.
"(That is) all right. Even though we prohibit them (not to issue the second memorandum), they will keep moving ahead (to do so)," Wahid told reporters at the Bina Graha presidential office.
On Monday, as many as six factions in the House reached a deal to send the second memorandum to Wahid. Among the factions were the Indonesia's Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), the biggest faction in the House, the Golkar Party faction and the Reform Party faction.
The second memorandum is one step away toward the staging of the MPR's special session.
"Just, let it be, (but anything) depends on the majority vote cast (whether or not the second memorandum would be certainly delivered)," Wahid said, referring to the deal.
Wahid reiterated he was ready to give reply to the first memorandum sent to him on February 1.
"Tomorrow (Wednesday) morning, (the text of the reply) will be checked by me and the vice president, and other persons. The text of the reply will be submitted before a cabinet meeting on March 24 (for finishing touch). It is predicted that anything will be ready on march 25 or 26 or March 31 at the latest," Wahid was quoted by the Antara News Agency as saying.
He said that he didn't know whether the reply should be conveyed in an oral statement. "If (the reply) is in a written statement, it will be faster, but if the House asks (me) an oral reply, it will take a long time," he said.
Presidential Secretary Abdul Mujid Manan said Wahid has instructed Cabinet Secretary Marsilam Simanjuntak and Presidential spokesman Wimar Witoelar to meet General Secretary of the House Sri Sumarjati to ask the format which should be used in answering the memorandum.
Manan said the meeting was expected to take place on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, at least 1,000 of Wahid's backers staged protest before the parliament building demanding the House revoke the memorandum it has sent to the president last month.
The protesters, mostly coming from East Java province, said that they were behind Wahid until 2004.
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