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Indonesian legislature to give Wahid a 2nd chance

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Wearing face and body makeup to represent society's downtrodden Indonesian student demonstrators protest against the current meeting of the People's Consultative Assembly, claiming that it does not truly address the needs of the people, in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2000. Wahid apologized to the nation's lawmakers Monday for his shortcomings but failed to directly address sectarian and separatist violence and the country's still struggling economic state. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)

August 9, 2000 

JAKARTA (AP) - After months of harsh criticism, Indonesia's highest legislature appeared ready Tuesday to give President Abdurrahman Wahid a second chance to reform the troubled Southeast Asian country.

Factional leaders in Indonesia's People's Consultative Assembly responded to an annual state of the nation speech by Wahid on Monday in which he apologized for his shortcomings and promised to do better.

Wahid sat in silence in front of the 700-member grouping for hours on end listening to speeches by legislators.

Some complained that he had glossed over burning national issues, such as how to end bloody separatist and religious conflicts that have already killed thousands and threaten the national unity.

They also criticized him for not doing more to fix Indonesia's economy that is only slowing pulling itself out of its worst crisis in a generation.

However, there was no talk of demanding that the president quit. A few weeks ago some lawmakers had pressed for the assembly to impeach Wahid - a move that was abandoned last week after he held peace talks with major political powerbrokers.

But others praised Wahid for improving democracy in Indonesia after 32 years of authoritarian rule under former dictator Suharto.

The head of the small People's Sovereign Party, Achmad Satari, called on Wahid to pay more attention to the wishes of the people but said his party "appreciates Wahid's effort to open wide the doors of democracy."

Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid dozes off during a session of the People's Consultative Assembly in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2000. After months of harsh criticism, Indonesia's highest legislature appeared ready Tuesday to give Wahid a second chance to reform the troubled Southeast Asian country. (AP Photo/Muchtar Zakaria)

The leader of the 38-member military and police faction said the security forces, accused of atrocities in recent times as well during Suharto's era, respected the "the persuasive approach the government has taken to resolve violent conflicts."

"In the past 10 months, the government has done well," said Brig. Gen. Benjamin Baluk.

Local newspapers also praised Wahid for trying to make peace with the legislators and vowing to stop the nation from falling apart.

"Wahid's progress report of his first year in office appeared to be received well enough, if not enthusiastically," wrote The Jakarta Post daily. "It seems that the embattled president has weathered the storm of criticism for now."

The legislature will continue to comment on Wahid's record through Tuesday night and Wednesday.

Attorney General Marzuki Darusman, who is also a member of the former ruling Golkar party that was the backbone of ex-President Suharto's 32-year reign, said Wahid's speech was well received by most factions within the assembly.

"There needs to be a bit of rhetoric here and there," he said. "But when it comes down to addressing the substantive issues, I think there will be close cooperation between the parliament and the presidency."

In Monday's state of the nation address, Wahid defended the record of his 10-month-old government and said the country was in a process of redefining itself after 32 years of authoritarian rule.

But many of those who backed Wahid's pro-democracy candidacy last year have since turned on the moderate Muslim cleric, saying that his mercurial style has scared off foreign investors and confused ordinary Indonesians.