INDONESIA: WAHID CORRUPTION SCANDAL LATEST (3)

(1 Feb 2001) Indonesian/Nat
The Indonesian parliament voted in a 393-4 landslide on Thursday to accept the findings of an inquiry that implicates Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid in two corruption scandals.
The move means Wahid faces the possibility of impeachment.
After the result, the assembly appeared determined to force Wahid to answer allegations against him.
The latest move by the legislature has raised fears of a constitutional crisis in the world's fourth-most populous nation that has long been wracked by politically inspired violence.
Forty-three deputies from Wahid's party walked out as the vote was taken, just hours after more than 10-thousand anti-corruption protesters took to the streets in spite of heavy rainfall.
Some lawmakers demanded the president resign.
There was no immediate response by Wahid.
However, in the past, he has vehemently denied any wrongdoing and has maintained that he is not accountable to parliament.
Lawmakers are expected to decide later Thursday exactly what action should be taken against Wahid.
Most favored sending him a strong reprimand that would force him to explain his actions in what would be a first step toward impeachment.
Others said impeachment proceedings should be launched immediately.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"393 agreed and only 4 against - that's why we accepted the committee's report and we'll continue to the next step. Most want to give Wahid a memorandum, some want a special session of the M-P-R. The one we'll choose will depend on a vote."
SUPER CAPTION: Akbar Tanjung, Speaker of Parliament saying
SOUNDBITE: (Indonesian)
"All the parties have no fairness in the way they view the President and that means all the parties have killed democracy in Indonesia."
SUPER CAPTION: Ali Mastur Musa, P-K-B spokesman
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"If I were in his shoes that's the most peaceful exit method I would take."
SUPER CAPTION: Alvin Lie, Deputy Head of the Special Committee that wrote the report
SOUNDBITE: (Indonesian)
"P-K-B should accept the result because all of the people know that what the president did was wrong."
SUPER CAPTION: Vox Pop
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