Amendments 'require referendum'<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Constitutional Commission has proposed that constitutional
\namendments in the future would require the approval of the people
\nthrough a national referendum, in a bid to prevent frequent
\nchanges to the Constitution.<\/p>\n
\"The need for a national referendum would underline the
\nurgency to improve people's participation,\" commission chairman
\nSri Soemantri said after a plenary meeting of commission members
\nhere on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Soemantri was referring to Article 3 (1) of the Constitution,
\nwhich says the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) holds the
\npower to amend the Constitution. Article 37 of the Constitution
\nstipulates that constitutional amendments require the approval of
\nat least two thirds of the MPR members.<\/p>\n
The proposal came as the commission was gearing up to finish
\nits job of synchronizing all constitutional amendments by the MPR
\nsince 1999. The commission members have been regrouping at
\nSantika Hotel in Central Jakarta since Monday to complete the job
\nand the results must be presented before MPR's Working Committee
\non May 6.<\/p>\n
Separately, commission deputy chairman Ishak Latuconsina
\nacknowledged the proposed amendment was aimed at preventing
\nfrequent changes to the Constitution.<\/p>\n
The MPR has amended the Constitution four times: In 1999,
\n2000, 2002, and 2003, as part of the sweeping reform in the
\ncountry. The gradual amendments have been blamed for
\ninconsistencies in the Constitution.<\/p>\n
According to the commission's proposal, the process of
\nconstitutional amendment would start with MPR members, who have
\nthe right to propose constitutional amendments. The proposal
\nwould then be formulated by a specific institution, that is, the
\nConstitutional Commission.<\/p>\n
After completing the draft, the commission would present it to
\nthe Assembly which would decide whether to approve it or not.<\/p>\n
The draft would then be presented at a plenary MPR session,
\nwith the requirement of attendance by at least four fifths of
\nAssembly members. Approval would be needed by at least two thirds
\nof lawmakers in attendance.<\/p>\n
Following the Assembly's endorsement, the draft amendment
\nwould need the people's approval -- through a national referendum
\n-- to take effect.<\/p>\n
Ishak said that during the meeting on Thursday commission
\nmembers did not discuss demands for the creation of a brand new
\nconstitution.<\/p>\n
He said commission members considered the country was not in
\nneed of a new constitution.<\/p>\n
In response to public outcry resulting from the commission's
\nplan to scrap human rights articles from the Constitution,
\nSoemantri said the commission had retracted the proposal.<\/p>\n
He acknowledged some commission members had demanded
\nrevocation of the rights articles, but after a series of
\ndiscussions they had agreed to keep the articles with some
\nadjustments.<\/p>\n
The commission has also arranged a discussion with various
\norganizations and experts on Monday to evaluate its work here.
\nAround 400 people, experts, non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
\nand activists are expected to turn up to the discussion.<\/p>\n
Constitutional law experts Harun Alrasyid and Satya Arinanto,
\nboth from the University of Indonesia, will be among speakers at
\nthe discussion. A similar discussion will be held in Medan, North
\nSumatra on April 38, and in Denpasar, Bali, on April 30.<\/p>",
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