WHEN he returned from a visit to Russia two weeks ago, Amien Rais, the Speaker of the Peoples' Consultative Assembly (MPR), faced legal charges. There was nothing half-hearted about these charges as they originated from Laksamana Sukardi, a minister in the cabinet of President Megawati Sukarnoputri.

But what's really behind it all? Is it just personal style or a mountain of ice in what appears to be new hostility between the National Mandate P