Wahid warns of 'firm action' on Indonesia

Wahid's supporters continue to congregate on the streets of Jakarta

By staff and wire reports

JAKARTA, Indonesia -- Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid has thrown down the gauntlet to his opponents, warning of "firm action" to protect the country.

In a speech at the presidential palace on Friday, he kept alive his threat to declare a state of emergency while calling for compromise.

Wahid, who faces an impeachment hearing on August 1, said again he would not resign despite growing calls for him to step down to prevent a political crisis descending into violence.

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"I don't care what it is, I will take firm action if the country is in danger," Reuters quoted the 60-year-old Muslim cleric as saying.

Soon after Wahid spoke senior ministers, including chief security minister Bambang Susilo Yudhoyono, began arriving at the palace to meet the president, Reuters reported.

The agenda of the meeting was unclear but Yudhoyono has played a key role in the crisis and has urged Wahid not to declare a state of emergency.

Wahid reiterated that his departure would prompt several parts of the troubled country to break away, comments previously played down by analysts and government officials.

"The challenge is the territorial integrity of the nation. Currently, many people, including officials, believe the integrity problem is a small one which can be overcome," Reuters quoted Wahid as saying.

"But I as an elected president have my own views," Wahid said. "I will not resign if the safety of the country is at stake."

He said he still wanted a political compromise that did not violate the constitution.

Faction leaders of the supreme legislature decided on Thursday to convene on August 1 to consider impeaching the Muslim cleric over two graft scandals and a chaotic 19-months in office.

The military has warned Wahid against declaring a state of emergency.

"The decree would make Indonesia's problems worse," armed forces spokesman Air Marhsall Graito Usodo was quoted as saying. "We have told the president this and we have asked him not to declare it."

Special session

Megawati's party members are determined to impeach Wahid

The date for the special session was set and announced by Assembly chairman and Speaker of Parliament Amien Rais, after a meeting with party leaders.

Foreign Minister Alwi Shihab, one of Wahid's closest advisers, said the president had no intention of issuing an emergency decree and would try to negotiate an end to Indonesia's political crisis before impeachment proceedings start.

Even Wahid's political enemies have held out the hope of a compromise that could bring stability to Indonesia's turbulent political situation.

Akbar Tandjung, speaker of parliament and chairman of the Golkar party, said the compromise to save Wahid's government was still possible.

He said he would welcome the opportunity for compromise, and if one is reached, he called on Indonesians to view the upcoming special session of the MPR as a chance to find a way out of the political crisis.

Even Amien Rais has said the August special session is "not the end of the world for President Wahid."

Wahid's political life could rest on the accountability speech he is to deliver before the MPR in August.

He will address the assembly during the special session, but if it rejects his defense, he could be dismissed and replaced by Vice President Megawati Sukarnoputri.

Megawati has not said anything publicly to indicate whether she is for or against Wahid's impeachment.

But her associates have said they will campaign for Wahid's removal.

"The party (Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle) is 100 percent committed to replacing Wahid with Megawati at the earliest moment," said Subagio Anom, a PDI-P lawmaker.