Assembly working group blasted over constitutional amendments<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A coalition of non-governmental organizations
\nhas slammed a People's Consultative Assembly working group for
\ntrying to draft constitutional amendments, which they claim were
\nladen with political interests, without proper public scrutiny.<\/p>\n
The Civil Society Coalition for a Constitutional Commission,
\nin a statement here on Wednesday, charged that the working group
\nwas, without transparency, deliberately conducting an amendment
\nof the 1945 Constitution.<\/p>\n
The Coalition claimed that public participation on the
\namendments was deliberately being impeded.<\/p>\n
The current amendments being drafted are due to be brought
\nbefore the Assembly's annual session in August.<\/p>\n
The Coalition pointed out that the working group had
\nestablished a Team of Experts as both justification and rubber
\nstamp to show that these proposals had been reviewed, in order to
\npush the amendments through without public scrutiny.<\/p>\n
Without specifying the controversial draft articles, the
\nCoalition, in their statement, said that their previous proposal
\nin February to establish a Constitutional Commission to draft a
\nnew constitution had been rejected by an Ad hoc Committee of the
\nworking group. This was despite the fact that it had full
\nauthority to carry out the drafting in a transparent and
\nparticipative manner.<\/p>\n
Instead, the Ad hoc Committee established a limited Team of
\nExperts to give their opinions on the draft.<\/p>\n
However, the scope of this new Team is severely limited and
\nhas been given a tight deadline of March 29 to give their
\nopinions on the draft.<\/p>\n
When the Team of Experts on Tuesday proposed they be given
\ngreater authority to draft a new constitution, this was also
\nrejected by the Ad hoc Committee.<\/p>\n
\"In short, with the limited authority and time given, the Team
\nof Experts is merely being used as a tool to legitimize the
\nAssembly's work as if the Assembly had tried to conduct
\namendments in an objective manner,\" the Coalition said.<\/p>\n
The Coalition comprises 17 NGOs which include the Center for
\nElectoral Reform, the Independent Election Monitoring Committee,
\nIndonesian Corruption Watch, the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human
\nRights Association and the Indonesian Forum for the Environment.<\/p>\n
\"How can the most basic and fundamental principles and laws of
\nthe nation state be drafted under a cloak of secrecy and without
\npublic participation?\" the Coalition asserted.<\/p>\n
In a three-point conclusion the Coalition asserted their
\nrejection of amendments conducted by the Assembly and demanded
\nthat the forthcoming Assembly session establish a new
\nConstitutional Commission with full authority to draft a new
\nconstitution.<\/p>\n
They further called on the Team of Experts to withdraw any
\nsupport and participation from the Assembly's Working Group.
\n(mds)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/assembly-working-group-blasted-over-constitutional-amendments-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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