Indonesia's biggest party to back Wahid censure

Megawati, Wahid's deputy, runs Indonesia's largest political party

In this story: 'We will be like that too' Forces on stand-by RELATED STORIES

JAKARTA, Indonesia -- A second censure of embattled President Abdurrahman Wahid will be backed by the country's largest political party, local media said Tuesday.

Megawati Sukarnoputri has said little about her party's stance since Wahid's first censure by parliament over two financial scandals, although a second formal rebuke against the president has been seen as inevitable.

In depth Shadows over Indonesia

Former Justice Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra, quoted by several leading newspapers, said Megawati confirmed her Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle (PDI-P) would support the second censure when parliament meets next Monday.

Megawati's PDI-P holds a third of the seats in parliament.

'We will be like that too'

Mahendra heads the tiny Crescent Star Party (PBB) while Megawati's PDI-P holds a third of the seats in parliament.

"As for the PBB, we have a clear stance to go for the second censure. Then I asked her what about PDI-P, and Mega said, 'Yes, (we) will be like that too'," Mahendra said.

Thousands have called for Wahid's resignation

Mahendra, sacked by Wahid earlier this year for backing calls that the president step down, said Megawati made the comments when he met her on Monday.

Officials from Megawati's party were not immediately available for comment.

Issuance of the second censure would open the way for impeachment hearings against Wahid in the top legislature, ratcheting up Indonesia's already heated political climate and raising the prospect of violence from fanatical Wahid supporters.

During the Monday session, parliament will debate its response to Wahid's rejection of the first censure, issued in February. There is little support for Wahid in parliament apart from his own party, which has about 10 percent of seats.

Forces on stand-by

Indonesian police have said 40,000 police and soldiers would be deployed to guard the capital when parliament meets Monday.

Officials fear thousands of pro-Wahid supporters, including members of suicide squads, will hit the streets.

The censure process is the most serious threat to the erratic Muslim cleric's 18 months of chaotic leadership, which has failed to drag the country away from bloodletting and economic misery.

But some analysts say the fear of the violence Wahid's downfall could ignite is likely to force the two largest parties, PDI-P and the former ruling Golkar party, to shy away from actually forcing an impeachment hearing.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Instability in Indonesia

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