Analysis: Testing Indonesia's democracy

The president's supporters have gone on the rampage

By Jonathan Head in Jakarta

The Indonesian Parliament decision to press ahead with impeachment proceedings against President Wahid, is yet another test for Indonesia's young democracy.

The country's scarce experience of democratic rule means that parliamentarians have few guidelines to help them in their campaign to force Mr Wahid from power.

The 1945 constitution, a sketchy document drawn up in haste at the start of Indonesia's independence struggle 56 years ago, does not actually mention impeachment.

Wahid dozing in the Indonesian Parliament

Instead, it allows the country's highest legislative body, the People's Consultative Assembly or MPR, to hold a special meeting, during which it can demand that the president step down.

Under the regime of former President Suharto, this was impossible because he appointed half of the 1,000 members of the MPR, and the parliament - which provided the other half - was effectively controlled by the government.

Wahid cornered

Today though, there are only 700 members of the MPR, and most factions in the 500-seat parliament have already decided to push for Mr Wahid's removal.

That leaves the embattled president few options.

His threat to impose emergency rule and dissolve parliament last week came to nothing, because neither his cabinet nor the military supported it.

There is still the possibility of violent protests by Mr Wahid's supporters, and the likelihood that his almost certain successor, Vice-President Megawati Sukarnoputri, will also face challenges from the parliament in the future.

But the fact that the politicians are still committed to following legal procedures is progress of a sort in a country where the rule of law is so weak.