D.S Buana/SWA & LM, Jakarta – The appearance of a "confidential" document outlining a plot to topple President Abdurrahman Wahid has met denials all round from those allegedly involved in its production.

Stamped "confidential", this document outlines the results of a meeting allegedly held on 27 June to discuss ousting President Wahid and replacing him with Vice President Megawati Sukarnoputri during the annual parliamentary session to be held between 7-18 August. The 9-page document has been circulating since June 19 around the House and at the Golkar Leader's annual meeting which wound up.

The opening page is a letter written by Priyo Budi Santoso, a member of the House from the Golkar Faction, dated 3 July and addressed to Akbar Tandjung, the Speaker of the House and Chairman of Golkar. Under the heading "Confidential" this letter describes a meeting held at the residence of Arifin Panigoro, a business magnate and head of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle's faction in the House and Assembly, on swanky Jl. Brawijaya, East Jakarta. His party, known as the PDI-P, is headed by Megawati.

Amongst those in attendance were former Minister of Finance in the Habibie cabinet, Fuad Bawazier, former Coordinating Minister for Economy, Finance and Industry, Ginandjar Kartasasmita, National Police Chief, Gen. Rusdiharjo, Intelligence Unit Assistant, Major Gen. Pol. Guntur, Association of Islamic Students (HMI) Chairman, Fakhrudin, and Arifin Panigoro himself.

In the document, Priyo alleged said that he had also invited Gen. Wiranto, Djaja Suparman, Adi Sasono and Dawam Rahardjo but they could not attend. While Eggi Sudjana refused to come after being contacted. Priyo himself were suggested by Arifin not to attend the meeting.

Interestingly, Bawazier, Kartasamita, Panigoro, Wiranto, Dawam Rahardjo, Adi Sasono, Eggi Sudjana and Akbar Tanjung and Suparman were all listed as agitators seeking to destabilise the country as a means to topple Wahid in an article published in Gatra magazine (No 34. Thn IV 8 Juli 2000).

According to the document, the group discussed the possibility of toppling President Wahid through mobilising the masses during the annual parliamentary session which runs from 7-18 August and elevating Vice President Megawati Sukarnoputri to the top job.

One of the central themes was President Wahid's weakening position due to a polarisation within the community and parliament of those for and against him. This was seen to aid their efforts to topple him.

The document also remarked that the recent furor over the interpellation motion initiated by Arifin Panigoro had broken the so-called Central Axis-Golkar-Gus Dur coalition which had elected Wahid, also known as Gus Dur, to the presidency. The Central Axis is a grouping of two Islamic parties headed by Speaker of the Assembly Amien Rais. This grouping had worked against the election of the PDI-P's leader Megawati. It also said the balance had shifted to Central Axis-Golkar-PDI against Gus Dur.

The other pages dealt with a scenario to replace Wahid and four candidates were mentioned: Amien Rais, Akbar Tandjung, Megawati and Nurcholish Madjid.

Akbar Tandjung was not considered suitable because he is perceived as still well connected to the old Golkar during the Suharto era. Amien Rais was considered risky after the Central Axis sidelined Megawati in the presidential elections of October 1999. Cak Nur (as Nurcholish Madjid is affectionately known) was deemed more suitable but an unlikely party to the plot and politically inexperienced. These considerations left Megawati as the only choice.

Not surprisingly, those mentioned in the document have categorically denied any knowledge of the meeting. When asked for confirmation, Priyo denied that he wrote the opening letter. Today, National Police Chief Gen. Rusdiharjo is but the latest to deny his involvement.

"That thing was made by a half crazy person. How could I be in two places at the same time, at once in Lampung and simultaneously in Jakarta? So that is total nonsense," Rusdiharjo told the press before a cabinet meeting at the Bina Graha presidential office here in Jakarta today. Rusdiharjo said that he was attending the induction ceremony of the new Lampung City Police Chief in Bandar Lampung, South Sumatra, when the meeting took place.

The bulk of the document does not bear any signature or clear identification of the writer and is inherently unreliable. It is undoubtedly an attempt to prompt further speculation on the rift between the parliament and the president but for whose benefit? The idea that Megawati would replace the President should a substantial movement in the parliament and evident support from civil society develop is nothing new, afterall.