HOUSE PLENARY SESSION ON CENTURY SCANDAL ENDS IN CHAOS

Jakarta, March 2 (ANTARA) - A House plenary session on the Bank Century bailout scandal was adjourned after an argument between the chair and the floor ended in chaos, and a rally outside the parliament building turned violent here on Tuesday.

As many legislators tried to make an interruption, House Speaker Marzuki Alie who led the plenary session seemed to lose control over the discussions.

Without the consent of the session's participants, the House Speaker suddenly declared the meeting closed as the chaos went on.

Security guards finally took Marzuki Alie out of the session hall because several legislators had climbed onto the House's leadership podium to approach him.

"Because the chair has closed the session, three of us (deputy House speakers) have called for an emergency House leadership meeting at 2 pm Western Indonesian Standard Time (WIB)," Priyo Budisantoso, a deputy house speaker, said. The two other deputies are Pramono Anung and Anis Matta.

Nudirman Munir of the Golkar Party faction, accused the House Speaker of 'impeaching' democracy by being authoritarian in chairing the important plenary session.

"By turning off the microphones so that members (of the Parliament) could not be heard, he has denied the members their right to speak," Nurdiman said.

Meanwhile, protesters rallying in front of the Parliament building were trying to bring down the building's fence. They had earlier managed to take out barbed wire structures set up to prevent them from approaching the building.

They also threw stones, bottles and wooden sticks at security guards. Police personnel used water cannon and tear gas to drive them out.

The demonstrators included members of KIPP (Committee of Independent Election Monitors), FK Ampera, Indonesian Young Farmers, SPN (National Labour Union), KSBSI (Confederation of Indonesian Labor Unions), and FUIB (United Muslim Forum).

The protesters demanded that the Bank Century bailout case be settled transparently and honestly and those responsible be brought to justice.
FUIB President Eggy Sudjana in his statement said if the House Inquiry Committee on the Bank Century bailout case issued recommendations which disappointed the people, the people would use their right by occupying the Parliament building.