Parliament Demands Wahid Impeachment

J A K A R T A, Indonesia, May 30, 2001 -- Indonesia's Parliament overwhelmingpassed a censure motion today demanding that PresidentAbdurrahman Wahid be impeached.

Opponents predicted the 60-year-old, nearly blind Islamic clericcould be forced from power by August, while security forcesconfronted thousands of angry Wahid supporters outside thelegislature.

The censure, the third issued by Parliament this year, wasapproved 365-4. It formally asks the People's ConsultativeAssembly, Indonesia's top legislative body, to convene a specialsession and decide Wahid's political fate.

After a sometimes rowdy debate, seven out of the legislature's10 factions backed the measure that sets in motion a process thatcould see him replaced by his main rival, Vice President MegawatiSukarnoputri, the daughter of Indonesia's founding leader, Sukarno.

Members of Wahid's own party and a small Christian group walkedout before the vote was taken and 39 members of a factionrepresenting the military abstained.

'No Intention of Quitting'

Wahid said he has "no intention of quitting" or invokingearlier threats to declare a state or emergency and dissolveParliament, his spokesman said.

Wahid has long challenged the right of lawmakers to move againsthim. He did not attend today's parliamentary session, butinstead held a meeting of leaders from the G-15 group of developingnations at a nearby convention center.

In a letter read to Parliament on his behalf today, Wahidrejected the legislature's earlier reprimands, saying they "failedto specify what pledge of office" he violated.

Speaking on the sidelines of the summit, Foreign Minister AlwiShihab predicted Wahid could still strike a deal with his opponentsto save his presidency.

Violence Erupts

About 6,000 Wahid supporters, many carrying sticks and knives,rallied at the gates of the heavily guarded legislature anddemanded it be disbanded.

About 1,000 broke through a fence around the complex. They werekept away from its main building by four lines of troops backed byarmored vehicles and tanks. Police scuffled briefly with protestersand one officer activated a tear gas canister, apparently bymistake. The group dispersed peacefully as night fell.

Earlier, Wahid spoke briefly to some supporters, saying "justbe patient, just be calm."

For three days in Wahid's heartland, East Java, mobs have burnedchurches, mosques and the offices of political opponents. Many havetaken oaths to die for Wahid, who formerly headed Indonesia'slargest Muslim organization and is still revered as holy man bymillions of followers.

Nearly 600 paratroopers were deployed in the town ofPasuruan and fired warning shots to disperse crowds today. A localhospital said one protester was killed and four wounded by gunfire.

Complex Constitutional Process

Today's vote was the latest step in a complex and largelyuntested constitutional process that has weighed heavily onIndonesia's transition to democracy.

It began last year with allegations that Wahid was involved intwo corruption scandals, but quickly seemed more to reflect growingdisillusionment over his erratic leadership style.

The parliament had twice before censured Wahid, who denies anywrongdoing.

He has been cleared by police and state prosecutors ofillegality. By ignoring those findings, lawmakers have made itclear that Wahid's fate is now a matter of politics rather thancriminal law.

The assembly that will judge Wahid consists of 500 parliamentarydeputies and 200 representatives of regional legislatures andsocial groups.

It elected Wahid to office only 19 months ago, making himIndonesia's first democratically chosen leader after four decadesof authoritarian rule.

Initially, he enjoyed wide support and promised to deliverreforms after the long rule of former dictator Suharto. But hispopularity sank after he failed to prosecute Suharto forcorruption, or quell bloody communal and separatist conflicts. Theeconomy also remains in crisis.

In a speech to lawmakers, the Indonesian Democratic Party ofStruggle, the legislature's largest single bloc, demanded Wahid bemade accountable for mismanaging the affairs of the nation andaccused him of encouraging its breakup.