Major Factions in Indonesia's House Asks for Speeding up Special SessionMajor factions in the Indonesia's House of Representatives (DPR) have urged the country's highest law-making body of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) to accelerate the staging of special session earlier than August 1.The seven factions though that President Abdurrahman Wahid has created unconducive situation instead of maintaining a good mood for the successful of the session. Accusing Wahid of provoking political tension, they also said security and political situations have been deteriorating from time to time. The factions, including the largest Indonesia's Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the Golkar Party, the United Development Party (PPP), the Reform party and the Crescent and Star party (PBB), voiced their concerns over the current political situation in the country. They criticized the president for its move to sack police Chief Gen. Suroyo Bimantoro. "The move (the firing of Bimantoro) showed a clear violation against constitution made by the president, as he made the decision in default of parliament approval," Chairman of the PPP faction Ali Marwan Hanan told a press conference at parliament building Monday. Wahid deactivated Bimantoro early last month, a move which prompted critics from many parties. And on Sunday the Muslim cleric appointed Bimantoro as ambassador to Malaysia. But Bimantoro on Monday rejected the president's offer, saying the president's decision was not in line with the country's constitution. The upcoming special MPR session would be the third one conducted by the country's Assembly since 1967 (impeachment against late Soekarno), 1999 (impeachment against former president B.J. Habibie). |
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