Assembly rejects PPP's motion on economy<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The People's Consultative Assembly asked the
\nminority faction the United Development Party (PPP) yesterday to
\ndrop its motion for the establishment of a decree on a democratic
\neconomy.<\/p>\n
Wiranto, who chairs the Assembly committee in charge of
\nnonstate policy guidelines, said that all the five factions in
\nthe Assembly agreed to give the Moslem-based faction time-out to
\nreconsider.<\/p>\n
The PPP was also urged to defer to another committee, and have
\nits proposal included in the draft 1998\/2003 State Policy
\nGuidelines.<\/p>\n
The decision to give PPP time-out was reached during a lobby
\namong representatives of the factions presided over by Wiranto.<\/p>\n
\"None of us turns a blind eye to unsolved problems in our
\neconomic development in the past 30 years... It requires an all-
\nout effort to improve in the future to meet the people's
\nexpectations. The problem now is where the concept should be
\npresented,\" said Wiranto, who is also Army Chief of Staff.<\/p>\n
PPP demanded the Assembly establish a separate and more
\npowerful decree on democratic economy to serve as legal footing
\nfor the establishment of an equity-oriented national development
\nprogram.<\/p>\n
It said that, on one hand, development had boosted the
\ncountry's income per capita, but on the other hand, it had caused
\ngrowing socioeconomic disparity.<\/p>\n
Golkar, the Armed Forces and regional representatives factions
\nopposed the bid, saying that the State Policy Guidelines had
\nalways included the spirit of a democratic economy.<\/p>\n
The minority Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) faction
\nsuggested that it join forces with PPP to campaign for Pancasila
\ndemocracy which included a democratic economy.<\/p>\n
Debate on a democratic economy is also underway in the
\ncommittee in charge of policy guidelines, chaired by R. Hartono.<\/p>\n
Wiranto hinted yesterday that PPP was ready to give up its
\nbid.<\/p>\n
\"During the lobby they said their major goal was demanding the
\nAssembly adopt its idea on a democratic economy in the whole
\nprocess of the national development program,\" Wiranto said.<\/p>\n
PPP legislator Muhammad Buang said his faction would consider
\nWiranto's offer for time-out, but insisted that it would battle
\nit out to campaign for such a principal matter like a democratic
\neconomy.<\/p>\n
\"We are prepared to extend the deliberation until the general
\nsession in March,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Deliberation of PPP's draft will resume today.<\/p>\n
The committee in charge of nonstate policy guidelines has so
\nfar been undecided on drafts of amendment to general election
\nrules sponsored by PPP and PDI, and of Pancasila democracy
\ninitiated by PDI.<\/p>\n
Earlier yesterday, a group of Hindu students demanded the
\nAssembly support revocation of five political laws commonly
\naccused of discouraging democratization in the country.<\/p>\n
The laws on mass organization, political parties, general
\nelection, position of the parliament and the People's
\nConsultative Assembly and referendum were enacted in 1985.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the Association of Hindu Students, K. Wiriana,
\ntold deputy speaker of the Assembly Poedjono Pranjoto that
\npolitical reforms were needed to ensure practices that recognized
\ndiversity and a fair recruitment process of political elite.<\/p>\n
\"If we want democratic order, we have to establish laws that
\nguarantee democratic values in society,\" Wiriana said.<\/p>\n
\"Our present political structure is not favorable enough to
\nthe people's aspirations,\" he added. (amd)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/assembly-rejects-ppps-motion-on-economy-1447893297",
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