Markus Junianto Sihaloho & Muninggar Sri Saraswati – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's increasingly flustered Democratic Party says it plans to hold a meeting with the leaders of its coalition partners to threaten the revocation of cabinet positions if they fail to back the government over the Bank Century case.

Democratic Party secretary general Amir Syamsuddin said the Democrats had been forced to take the measure because the House of Representatives special committee investigating the Rp 6.7 trillion ($710 million) government bailout was "not purely aimed at uncovering the truth in the case."

He said the commission – which had initially been expected to issue its preliminary findings on Thursday but now may not do so until March 2 in order to allow secret negotiations to run their course – was biased as it only summoned witnesses who opposed the bailout. "Our suggestions to invite certain bankers and economists fell on deaf ears," Amir said.

Amir said he and other members of the Democratic Party were enraged that the coalition partners had failed to respect the president. "Our view is that the president, as a symbol of the state, has been treated improperly. They haven't even shown any sympathy," Amir said, adding that the coalition members had failed to support the government in improving social conditions.

The comments are clearly directed at the Golkar Party and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), which have sent conflicting messages about whether they will back Yudhoyono or call for the impeachment of Vice President Boediono or the dismissal of Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati.

Akbar Faizal, a lawmaker from the opposition People's Conscience Party (Hanura), criticized the Democrats' call for a leadership meeting to settle the Bank Century case, saying that it would be seen as a "betrayal" of the people.

"Currently, the public is waiting for the government and its coalitions parties to abide by their consciences in settling the case," Akbar said.

Senior Golkar politician Idrus Marham, the chairman of the special committee, indicated on Thursday that the committee would continue to push for the removal of Sri Mulyani, who many analysts see as the nemesis of party chairman Aburizal Bakrie.

"Since the very beginning, Golkar supported the commitment of the coalition to develop a new Indonesia that is clean from corruption," Idrus said, indicating that the party would continue to press that charges be brought against those responsible for the allegedly illegal bailout.

He said coalition parties were concerned about addressing rumors involving the flow of the money from the Bank Century bailout.

There have been allegations, which have been strongly denied, that some of the money went to people in the Democratic Party and Yudhoyono's re-election team. "We want to clear this up as one of the rumors has pointed to the president and his family as the recipients [of the bailout money]," Idrus said.

Fahri Hamzah, a PKS lawmaker, said the meeting would not affect his party's actions in the Century investigation. "We are members of the coalition, but we have an obligation to the people who voted for us. We have to uncover the truth," he said.

Meanwhile, the United Development Party (PPP), a member of the ruling coalition, criticized the Democrats for their poor attempts at communicating with coalition partners. "There is no coalition, no follow-up," PPP secretary general Irgan Khoirul Mahfidz said.

Irgan said the Democrats appeared to be following their own path. "The PPP remains a part of the coalition, and we are on track to implement the coalition agreement," he said. "But it appears that the Democrats want to walk alone."

Coordinating Minister for the Economy Hatta Rajasa, who chairs the National Mandate Party (PAN) and is a close aide of Yudhoyono's, said there were no communication problems among members of the coalition as party leaders often met to discuss a range of topics, including the Century case. "We have no problems with communication. We met last week," he said.