Assembly's synchronizing team to meet today<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The People's Consultative Assembly will convene
\na synchronizing team today to resolve 20 unsettled issues left
\nover from the regular sessions to deliberate the draft 1998\/2003
\nState Policy Guidelines.<\/p>\n
One of the team members, Muhammad Buang, said over the weekend
\nthat the synchronizing team was formed to smooth the way for a
\nunanimous approval of the draft.<\/p>\n
"The team will seek compromises through intensive lobbying.
\nAll agreements reached in the team's deliberation will be adopted
\nas the Assembly's decision," said Buang who represents the United
\nDevelopment Party (PPP) faction.<\/p>\n
The team will comprise 15 members representing all five
\nfactions in the Assembly.<\/p>\n
R. Hartono of dominant Golkar faction has been named the
\nteam's leader.<\/p>\n
All the contentious matters which have to be settled were
\nproposed by PPP and fellow minority faction PDI.<\/p>\n
Buang said these issues include clauses on democratic economy,
\nbureaucratic reforms, judicial review of laws by the Supreme
\nCourt, abolition of civil servants' political affiliation to
\nGolkar, administrative roles given to poll contestants in general
\nelections and the exclusion of nondenominational faiths from
\nreligious development.<\/p>\n
"We are afraid that if we don't initiate a smaller forum, we
\nmight not be able to reach any decision on those problematic
\nmatters," Buang said, adding that such a practice applied in the
\ndeliberation of the 1993\/1998 State Policy Guidelines in which he
\ntook part five years ago.<\/p>\n
He predicted that the toughest debate would be on PPP's demand
\nfor the exclusion of nondenominational faiths from the religious
\naffairs section in the policy guidelines.<\/p>\n
A deadlock spree has marred the deliberation of the draft
\nguidelines since it kicked off on Oct. 27. The deliberation will
\nrun until Jan. 23 next year.<\/p>\n
The Assembly will resume its general session in March to
\nendorse the draft.<\/p>\n
Deliberations for unanimous agreement is usually highly
\npreferred than voting.<\/p>\n
Buang said, however, the synchronizing team did not have to
\nforce compromises if either PPP or PDI refused to give up their
\nmotions.<\/p>\n
"Our job now is preparing, not approving, a draft. The
\nendorsement will be made in the second stage of the Assembly
\ngeneral session next March," he said.<\/p>\n
Filling the seats in the team are five Golkar representatives,
\nincluding Minister of Information Hartono. Moslem-based faction
\nthe United Development Party (PPP), the Armed Forces and regional
\nrepresentatives factions have two seats each, while the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party (PDI) has one.<\/p>\n
All the team members were picked from the 45-strong Assembly
\nad hoc committee in charge of the State Policy Guidelines. (amd)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/assemblys-synchronizing-team-to-meet-today-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}