Indonesia party backs off early impeachment

There have been hopes that Wahid and Megawati can mend their relationship, which has been increasingly cool

By staff and wire reports

JAKARTA, Indonesia -- Indonesia's biggest political party has backed away from efforts to bring forward an impeachment hearing against embattled President Abdurrahman Wahid, local media reported.

Earlier, some legislators in the Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle (PDI-P) of Vice President Megawati Sukarnoputri had said the impoverished country was too volatile to wait until the August 1 impeachment session, the date originally planned.

However, after a meeting on Tuesday, the party decided there was no firm constitutional basis for speeding up the hearing, The Jakarta Post reported.

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Mahfud MD -- one of Wahid's senior ministers tasked to lobby major opposition parties to prevent the impeachment process -- told reporters on Wednesday that the lobbying team has finished its work.

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"The response is generally positive," he said, as quoted by detikcom news portal, without giving any more details.

Wahid was expected to give his accountability speech in the hearing, which was called after Parliament censured the president over two financial scandals and his erratic 20-month rule.

If the supreme People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) rejected his speech, it could remove Wahid from office and promoted his deputy, Megawati, as Indonesia's new president.

PDI-P's decision on Tuesday followed steps by other major opposition parties to rule out trying to accelerate the MPR special session.

"We are sticking to the original schedule of August 1," The Jakarta Post quoted Roy Janis, deputy chairman of the party, as saying.

The idea to expedite the MPR special session was floated after Wahid gave permission to the Attorney General's Office to investigate several legislators, including one from PDI-P, on alleged corruption.

Rule of law

Janis also told reporters that the party remained neutral on the state prosecutors' plan to investigate its parliamentary faction leader and legislator, Arifin Panigoro.

"(Megawati) always underlines the rule of the law so the party will not discuss or interfere in the case," he added.

Many political analysts agree that the supreme MPR is likely to oust Indonesia's first democratically elected leader when it meets in August unless Wahid can strike a political compromise.

Wahid himself dispatched his senior ministers -- among them was Mahfud -- to lobby leaders of opposition parties in an attempt to strike a compromise and thwart the impeachment process.

However, political observers say that it depends on Megawati, who has been increasingly cool toward her erstwhile friend and mistrustful of his offers to share power.

Anniversary of Sukarno death

Both are expected to visit Blitar, a small town in East Java, on Wednesday to take part in events marking the death of Sukarno, the country's first president and Megawati's charismatic father.

Prior to his visit to Blitar, Wahid will visit Pasuruan, also in East Java, to meet the victims of the riots that hit the town last month, the presidential spokesman said.

Thursday's commemorations are to mark the 31st anniversary of Sukarno's death.

He was ousted from power by Suharto in 1966, died under house arrest and later was buried in Blitar, under Suharto's order despite wishes that he wanted to be buried in his residence in West Java.

Also scheduled to attend the events are Megawati's siblings and some of Sukarno's wives.

Both Megawati and Wahid are known to derive inspirations from Sukarno.

Megawati, whom her supporters call as the political heir of Sukarno, often speak lovingly of her father and once said she inherited his "stubborn" character. Wahid has often compared his political situation with the first president's.

Reuters contributed to this report.