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CNN World Report

Possible Impeachment for Indonesia's President Abdurrahman Wahid

Aired May 06, 2001 - 14:02   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ASIEH NAMDAR, CNN ANCHOR: We begin in Indonesia, where the future of embattled President Abdurrahman Wahid appears on very shaky ground. Monday, he was censured by the parliament for the second time for alleged corruption and incompetence. The move has opened door for possible impeachment just after 18 months in office. But a defiant Mr. Wahid says he will not step down and denies any wrongdoing.

The Indonesian leader has also come under scrutiny and criticism for stepping up the military offensive in Indonesia's separatist Aceh province. Last month, Jakarta sent over 1,000 troops to Aceh to launch a security operation against the separatist rebels. But critics say that has only led to more violence which this year alone has claimed more than 400 lives.

Indonesia's RCTI has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED RCTI REPORTER (voice-over): The streets of Nibo are quieter these days. Gone are the trucks of Exxon Mobile Indonesia that use today travel through this small village located just a few kilometers from the Exxon Mobile's plant in Luk Sukhon (ph), North Aceh. Most of the shops in Nibo are closed. The locals have stopped going to the rice fields and instead spend their days talking. Among the most talked about subjects is the increased presence of troops in the area.

This man spoke to RCTI on the condition his identity be concealed. He says that since troops were deployed to safeguard the Exxon Mobile plant most residences have lived in fear, especially when the soldiers come into the villages.

Security in Luk Sukhon has been upgraded since Exxon Mobile Indonesia shut down its LNG plant on March 9th. The closure comes following increased security threats against the plant as well as employees.

Pressures for the Indonesian government to provide a better security guarantee in Aceh was one of the decisive factors, yet a decision by president Wahid to issue a decree on law and order in Aceh, but Mr. Wahid is still holding back on giving the actual go- ahead for the so-called security operation which also aims to crush all separatist movements in the province. Armed forces commander Wedodo Adisuchito (ph) has reiterated the military's readiness to carry out this security operation as stipulated in the presidential decree. The military's top brass has complained of mixed signals from the Wahid Administration regarding the instruction to restore order in Aceh, a condition, the military says, will only worsen security tensions in the province.

In the meantime, violence continues to flare in Aceh. This wreckage of a police truck is all that is left from the latest skirmish between the Free Aceh movement, GAM, and the mobile brigade unit in Birhan (ph) . An officer was killed in the assault and four others were seriously wounded.

In the nearby district of Padehdeh (ph) , a clash between the separatist group and the police resulted in this aftermath. As in other incidents, casualties found not only on the side of the fighting forces, but it also took its toll on the civilian population.

This is the RCTI newsteam reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SHIHAB RATTANSI, CNN ANCHOR: Well for more on the story and the general situation in Indonesia, joining us by phone is Nova Poerwadi with Indonesia's RCTI. Nova, thanks for joining us. Would you say that it's fair to say that Mr. Wahid is restraining the military from starting an all-out offensive against the rebels in Aceh?

NOVA POERWADI, RCTI REPORTER: Well, Aceh is one flash-point, so to speak, in the relationship -- testy relationship -- between President Wahid and the military. Now, this has, of course, security implications and it also has political implications since the military still has 38 seats in parliament.

RATTANSI: Would you say though that this is, this rift is potentially very serious there for the next -- the coming months when Mr. Wahid is under so much pressure anyway?

POERWADI: Well, yes from the military side. I mean the military has taken a position not to get itself involved in politics, yet during the vote during the first censure motion which was issued in February, they supported or endorsed, or voted for the censure motion. Now, of course, they've since relaxed their position on the second censure motion issued on Monday. They acted neutrally. They abstained from the -- from voting.

But of course, some lawmakers say that this is to make it easier for the military to take harsh action should it be necessary to do so, if Mr. Wahid's supporters resort to force.

RATTANSI: Many of those voting for censure want Vice President Megawati Sukarnoputri to take over from President Wahid. They have an indication that she would be more likely to (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the military a full-scale offensive against rebels in Ache and else where in the Archipelago for those who are seeking autonomy or independence. POERWADI: Well, Mrs. Megawati is known for perhaps her a more conservative or harder line. But then again, in terms of the leadership issue, Mrs. Megawati herself has been quite vague and understandably so, because a lot of the people who are now supporting her to become president, to replace President Wahid, were the same people who opposed her presidential bid in 1999, over religious and gender issues.

And of course, Mr. Wahid and Mrs. Megawati have a very strong grassroots support. So there is fear that there could be clashes among the supporters of these two popular leaders.

RATTANSI: So in your opinion though, even if Mrs. Megawati took over as president, she would have as much if not more difficulty in reigning in the various factions within Indonesian politics?

POERWADI: Well, Indonesian politics is especially lengthy. What has happened with Mr. Wahid's presidency is that the unthinkable has happened, in that various political parties who have thus far not been able to unite their agendas has come together.

In fact, within the next week, Mrs. Megawati is scheduled to host a meeting of all party leaders that to discuss the current political developments and many expect that this meeting would discuss the eventuality, should Mr. Wahid fail to respond to the censure motion, which could lead to his impeachment.

RATTANSI: How representative would you say that the various factional politics that are underway right now in the Indonesian parliament, how far is that representative of wider Indonesian public opinion?

POERWADI: Well, Mr. Wahid has always claimed that is only parliament which is after him, and that the Indonesian public do not think he should step down. But the fact of the matter is that Indonesian President is chosen by a majority of parliament, and not by popular elections. So in this case, Mr. Wahid may -- it may be true that Mr. Wahid has some wide support, especially in his own province and in a few provinces.

But then again, his party controls only about 11 percent of parliamentary seats, whereas Mrs. Megawati's party controls 33 percent and all the other opposition parties control a larger share of parliament than Mr. Wahid does. So he really depends on the goodwill of parliament which is quite lacking in these past few months.

RATTANSI: Nova Poerwadi, of RCTI of Indonesia, thank you very much.

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