Assembly to maintain floating mass policy<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The minority Indonesian Democratic Party's (PDI)
\ncampaign for the revocation of the floating mass policy, long
\naccused of curtailing political parties' outreach opportunities
\nwhile giving undue clout to the dominant Golkar, looks set to be
\nditched.<\/p>\n
The People's Consultative Assembly, pressed for time as
\ndeadlines loom, will probably agree to introduce some
\nimprovements in the general election rules if PDI agrees to drop
\nits campaign against the floating mass policy.<\/p>\n
Soedarjanto, a PDI Assembly member, said the bargaining was
\nprompted by the chairman of the Assembly's ad hoc committee in
\ncharge of state policy guidelines, R. Hartono.<\/p>\n
It was Hartono who suggested that the five factions in the
\nAssembly discuss the last two motions on the floating mass policy
\nand election rules simultaneously.<\/p>\n
Both motions are sponsored by PDI and its fellow minority
\nfaction, the United Development Party (PPP), but opposed by the
\nGolkar faction and its traditional allies -- the Armed Forces and
\nregional representatives factions.<\/p>\n
None of the six motions lodged by the two minority factions
\nhave received the Assembly's approval since deliberations started
\nin late October last year.<\/p>\n
The committee members will have to finish deliberation
\ntomorrow to give themselves a week to prepare their reports.
\nThese will be delivered in a plenary session on Jan. 23.<\/p>\n
Soedarjanto said PDI, as well as PPP, was considering pushing
\nfor election rule changes rather than the revocation of the
\nfloating mass policy.<\/p>\n
\"Our lasting goal is to establish fair general elections which
\nmust include transparent registration of voters and ballot
\ncounting,\" Soedarjanto said.<\/p>\n
The government enacted in 1985 the floating mass policy which
\nbars political organizations from conducting any political
\nactivities at the village level.<\/p>\n
Golkar has repeatedly defended the policy, saying that it
\nmaintains both harmony among villagers and national stability.<\/p>\n
PPP legislator Muhammad Buang said Golkar had in principle
\nagreed to the minority factions' demand for greater participation
\nof poll contestants in the general election process, from the
\nregistration of voters through to ballot counting.<\/p>\n
He said he had drawn up a draft of improved general election
\nrules and expected it to be approved in the remaining two days of
\ndeliberation. (amd)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/assembly-to-maintain-floating-mass-policy-1447893297",
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