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Wahid gets breathing space
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BELEAGUERED Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid won some breathing space yesterday when his powerful chief political foe conceded it was impossible to call an early session of the top legislature to impeach him.
The comments by Amien Rais, who heads the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), give Wahid at least a few more months and appear to rule out an early sitting of the assembly.
A special session was mooted after parliament censured the increasingly embattled Wahid last month over two graft scandals.
Indonesia's first democratically elected leader is under mounting pressure to step down after just 16 turbulent and increasingly bloody months into a five year term.
Yesterday, more than 1,000 students massed in the grounds of parliament for a second day of largely peaceful protests to demand that Wahid steps down.
Across town, a similarly-sized group of pro-Wahid protesters rallied outside the presidential palace to voice their support for the frail Muslim cleric.
As tensions rose, army chief General Endriartono Sutarto said the military would step in if the situation got out of hand.
“We must guard the nation if a chaotic situation erupts," the Jakarta Post daily quoted him as saying. “We are not going to let it occur nationwide. The nation's interests are paramount."
Co-ordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono warned of the nation's collapse if questions over the national leadership, stability and security are not quickly resolved.
Alluding to the House of Representatives' memorandum process against Wahid and a possible special session of the People's Consultative Assembly, Susilo said the uncertainty will last until July or August.
“This uncertainty will have a severe impact, not only on the political front, but also in our economic, social and security fields," the minister said in a written statement.(SD_Agencies)
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