Fate of reform 'must override' Gus Dur's presidency.

What choice is left after the issuing of a memorandum by the House of Representatives (DPR), effectively a first warning to President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid to give him chance to improve his performance in three month's time? Political observer J. Soedjati Djiwandono thinks the choice is crystal clear.

JAKARTA (JP): Gus Dur will either carry on as president to the end of his term but with greater possibility of impeachment -- which would not only mean a fall from grace for him, but more importantly, almost certain social conflicts -- or gracefully resign. His days as president have begun to be numbered.

So far, however, Gus Dur does not seem to realize the magnitude of the emerging crisis. In response to the House memorandum, he has publicly stated that he will not resign. On the contrary, he seems determined to strike back with a vengeance. He …