Jakarta – In a sudden about-face, Indonesia's ruling Golkar party Monday proposed that students and opposition politicians be included in a controversial parliamentary session next week, the first since the fall of Suharto.
"The Assembly's Extraordinary Meeting should be made to function as a forum for national reconciliation, where the diverse groups of people meet," Din Sjamsuddin, vice chairman of the Golkar faction in the Assembly, said. The state Antara news agency, which reported the proposal, called it a last minute "surprise," and said it was backed by a second parliament faction, the Moslem-oriented United Development Party (PPP).
The call by Golkar, Suharto's political vehicle during his 32 years in power, if accepted, would mean three post-Suharto giants, popular nationalist leader Megawati Sukarnoputri, Moslem reformist Amien Rais and respected moderate Islamic leader Abdrurachman 'Gus' Dur, would join the session.
The absence of the three from the November 10-13 plenary session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), was one of the main reasons that reformist students who had been instrumental in toppling Suharto, had called the session a "farce." They had threatened mass protests of the kind that brought thousands back onto the streets last week.
"I would like to suggest that a number of public figures who have real following in society, such as Amien, Megawati and Gus Dur be involved, invited, or even appointed to the Assembly membership," Antara quoted Sjamsuddin as saying. Sjamsuddin brushed aside the necessity for formalities, saying that the times demanded that the MPR meeting be one of "reconcilliation."
"There is no need for institutionalizing it on the agenda. But, as this Extraordinary Meeting is... the holder of the people's sovereignty... it would be commendable to make it also function as a forum of reconciliation where the diverse groups of people meet," he said. "So, I would like to suggest that a number of public figures, who have real following in society such as Amien Rais, Gus Dur and Megawati be involved, invited, and even appointed to the Assembly's membership," he said.
Sjamsuddin also suggested the possibility of appointing a number of university student representatives, Antara said. "It would only be reasonable if some of them, say three to five persons, (be appointed to the Assembly). Of course there would be some difficulties to select them, but just entrust the selection to the students, especially the formal student organizations in the campuses," he said.
"As the nation is faced with a crisis, I believe that the Assembly's Extraordinary Meeting should also be made into a forum of national get-together or national reconciliation."
The Chairman of the PPP faction in the Assembly, H. Faisal Baasir, when asked to comment on the proposals, was quoted by Antara as saying the PPP had "long nurtured a similar intention."
"I suggest to President B. J. Habibie to appoint Amien Rais, Megawati, and Gus Dur as Assembly members through representation ofthe functional groups," he said.
The MPR session is charged with drawing up a political blueprint for poast-Suharto Indonesia, including setting a date for elections next year and determining the rules for political parties.
[On November 4, the Indonesian Observer reported that Megawati and Rais have refused to attend the session because they don't want to be seen as endorsing the decisions made by parliament. It said that Gus Dur is yet to respond to the offer, as he's still suffering from poor health. but that sources close to him say he's unlikely to attend - James Balowski.]