RETIRED GENERALS' MEETING NOT DISCUSS IMPEACHMENT : SPOKESMAN

Jakarta, Feb 1 (ANTARA) - Several retired army generals and a number of national figures met here on Monday but they did not discuss the issue of impeachment, retired lieutenant general Kiki Syahnakri said.

He said the meeting at the headquarters of Islamic organization Muhammadiyah was a mere general forum for making suggestions and expressing concern over various problems faced by the nation at present.

"It was a meeting among individuals from different organizational components including retired military (TNI) members and members of the executive boards of Muhammadiyah, NU (Nahdlatul Ulama Islamic organization), SOKSI organization and others. They discussed matters of national concern," he said to newsmen after the meeting.

He said however that all the participants had a common view that the issue of impeachment must not lead to a split in the nation.

Some of the meeting's participants saw the development of scenario that could lead to impeachment, he said.

"If it is a mere idea among some parliament members, it is no big problem. But it will be dangerous if it becomes a movement seeking impeachment through unconstitutional means," he said.

He said it was realized there was potential of national divisions over the Bank Century case it was feared this could be used by separatist groups to seek an opportunity to divide the c9ountry. "The potential is there," he said.

Therefore, the country's leaders must immediately take a firm stance so that the problem will not spread and drag on. "The national leadership must settle the problem," he said.

Among the figures attending the meeting were Muhammadiyah chief Din Syamsuddin, former minister Kwik Kian Gie, former parliamentary member Ali Mochtar Ngabalin and former minister Khofifah Indar Parawansa, former army commander retired general Ryamizard Ryacudu and former chief of staff of the Security and Order Command, retired general Widjojo Soejono.

The participants agreed to name their group the National Rescue Movement and the would form a team to formulate a petition.

The team consists of Kiki Syahnakri, Syamsul Muarif (SOKSI), Ma'Mun Murod Al Barbasy (Muhammadiyah), Ali Mochtar Ngabalin and Syaeful Bachri Anshori (NU) and Chusnul Mariyah (University of Indonesia).