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Decree on State of Emergency Will Be Issued Tomorrow Evening: Indonesian President
Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid Thursday reiterated that he would issue a decree on state of emergency on Friday evening at 18:00 p.m. local time (11:00 GMT) if political compromises with his political foes can not be reached by that time.
Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Social, Political and Security Affairs Agum Gumelar said he was praying so that the decree would not be issued.
"On July 20, tomorrow evening at 06:00 o'clock, I will announce state of danger, if political compromises cannot be reached by that time," Wahid said in the Lirboyo Islamic Boarding School in East Java province, the heartland of his fanatic backers.
He said the decree would be valid on July 31.
But he preached for political compromises.
"If there is compromise before July 31. Yeah .... the state of danger would not be taken into effect. Hopefully there will be compromises," the president was quoted by the Antara News Agency as saying.
Wahid also rejected proposal to transfer power to Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri, saying such a transfer is equal to the violation of the country's constitution he wants to defend.
Earlier, Wahid also warned that he would go ahead with his controversial plan to declare state of emergency, a move which will empower him to freeze parliament and its working.
Wahid's political future is at stake as he would be asked to account for his 21- month erratic rule before the special session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) which is due on August 1.
There are strong suggestions that Wahid may fail to defend his presidency during the session as his responsibility speech would be rejected by the MPR.
Wahid's plan to issue decree on state of emergency has been opposed by many parties including parliament and the country's military and police.
But it seemed that Wahid would keep moving ahead, brushing aside any advice from his aids in the cabinet.
Speaker of parliament Akbar Tandjung Thursday also said that Wahid's plan to issue decree would have no support from political parties and military, saying the move would only prompt the MPR to speed up its special session earlier than August 1.
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