Assembly likely to drop internal rule review<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) looked
\nalmost certain yesterday to dismiss a proposal to change its
\ninternal rules, pending overnight deliberation in each of its
\nfive factions.<\/p>\n
The rules apply, among other things, to the members' rights
\nand obligations, the size of membership, members' immunity from
\nprosecution and meeting procedures.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the Assembly's ad hoc committee in charge of the
\ninternal rules deliberation, Wiranto, said the session yesterday
\nfailed to decide on the United Development Party (PPP) faction's
\ndemand for the Assembly to declare every ad hoc committee session
\nopen to the public.<\/p>\n
The current internal rules state that ad hoc committee
\nsessions are to be held behind closed doors, but the Assembly
\ncould declare them open.<\/p>\n
The committee also delayed deliberation on the PPP and the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party (PDI) factions' motion for the
\nestablishment of MPR decrees on a clean government. This
\nparticular issue is not related to the motion for changes in the
\ninternal rules.<\/p>\n
Wiranto, who is also Army Chief of Staff, hailed the committee
\nmembers for their cooperativeness in the session which discussed
\n42 suggestions for changes.<\/p>\n
\"I deeply appreciate all the factions for (seeking) to solve
\nany problem in the spirit of harmony,\" Wiranto said.<\/p>\n
After a brief lobbying session early in the meeting, all of
\nthe factions agreed not to change stipulations on membership of
\nthe Assembly working committee, the number of factions and the
\nworking committee's jobs.<\/p>\n
Both the PPP and PDI had demanded earlier an increase in the
\nnumber of committee members from the current 90 to 100, with
\nequal voting rights. Only half of the committee members have
\nvoting rights, according to the current internal rules.<\/p>\n
The minority parties also saw their proposal to unite the
\nregional representatives with legislators representing various
\nprofessions and mass organizations into one faction rejected.<\/p>\n
Yesterday's session dropped PDI's bid to extend the term of
\noffice of working committee members to five years to allow them
\nto prepare drafts of state policy guidelines for the next general
\nsession.<\/p>\n
But all five factions agreed to take note of the PDI's
\nproposal in the Assembly's report.<\/p>\n
Autonomy<\/p>\n
In a separate session deliberating state policy guidelines,
\nthe PPP urged the Assembly to focus on the empowerment of
\nregional authorities if the government was to go on with its plan
\nto establish regional autonomy.<\/p>\n
\"Autonomy will take shape if local governments are provided
\nwith the authority to coordinate and combine the planning,
\nimplementation and control of development programs in their
\nrespective territories,\" PPP spokesman Alimarwan Hanan told the
\nsession presided over by R. Hartono.<\/p>\n
Alimarwan said regional autonomy would include management of
\nfinances, although the government should maintain its assistance
\ntaken from the state budget.<\/p>\n
\"That's why our faction finds it urgent (that we) establish a
\nlaw on financial balances which regulate the distribution of
\nfunds raised by local governments,\" Alimaran said.<\/p>\n
The Moslem-oriented faction also suggested fair allocation of
\nprojects to help local people enhance their economic resources
\nand reduce their financial dependence on the government.<\/p>\n
The PDI supported PPP's bid to set up regulations which ensure
\nfair distribution of government and regional revenues.<\/p>\n
The Golkar faction said Indonesia should pay more attention to
\nenvironment conservation and rehabilitation in the next five-year
\ndevelopment program.<\/p>\n
The faction's spokeswoman Pratiwi Sudharmono said all efforts
\nshould be sought, including the use of clean technology without
\nsacrificing economic, social, cultural and legal principles.<\/p>\n
Deliberations on the possibility to exclude a non-denomination
\nfaith from religious development programs looks set to highlight
\nthe session today. (amd)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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