Constitutional amendment main focus at session<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The fourth phase of the constitutional amendment process will
\nlikely become the major focus of attention from the public and
\nlegislators during the Annual Session of the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR), despite some other important issues.<\/p>\n
This trend has been reflected in the proposals and input
\nbrought forth by various groups who have visited the MPR over the
\nlast three days. Nearly all of the delegations came to discuss
\nthe constitutional amendment, ignoring other important issues,
\nsuch as the recommendations for an economic recovery that will
\nalso be deliberated in the 10-day session.<\/p>\n
A group of veteran leaders met deputy Assembly speaker Jusuf
\nAmir Feisal on Wednesday to voice their rejection of the current
\namendment process.<\/p>\n
Head of the delegation Syaiful Sulun claimed that the current
\namendment process had deviated from the character of the nation
\nthat was defined by the founding fathers.<\/p>\n
Earlier on Tuesday Muslim cleric Solahuddin Wahid,
\nlawyer Adnan Buyung Nasution and former coordinating minister for
\npolitical and security affairs Gen. (ret) Wiranto also raised
\ntheir concerns over the amendment process.<\/p>\n
Syaiful Sulun said that the adoption of a bicameral system was
\nalso a deviation from the Unitary Republic of Indonesia as it
\ncould lead to federalism.<\/p>\n
There have been fears of Indonesia adopting a federal system
\nand suspicion that the change was nothing more than a Western
\nagenda, including the U.S.<\/p>\n
\"We can't apply American values here,\" said Syaiful, who was
\naccompanied by former mines and energy minister Subroto.<\/p>\n
Syaiful insisted that the amendment must be based on national
\ncharacter and warned the Assembly against creating a new
\nconstitution.<\/p>\n
Meantime, activists with the Human Rights Advocacy Institute
\n(LP-HAM) argued that the highest legislative body did not have
\nthe authority to carry out the amendment.<\/p>\n
\"If the MPR carries out the constitutional amendment or
\ncreates a new constitution, it is an abuse of power because
\nAssembly members have been sworn in to remain loyal to the
\nConstitution,\" said LP-HAM secretary general Hotma David
\nSimanjuntak in a statement.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the reform faction A.M. Luthfi acknowledged that
\nthe constitutional amendment would be the main focus of attention
\nat the Annual Session.<\/p>\n
\"We will focus on four unsolved items at the Annual Session.
\nWe have to finish the amendment,\" said Luthfi, a member of the ad
\nhoc committee for constitutional amendment (PAH 1).<\/p>\n
The ad hoc committee for non-amendments (PAH 2) had prepared
\nfour decrees on a recommendation for a quick economic recovery,
\nthe modification of the Assembly's internal rules, the revocation
\nof an MPR decree on the procedure for presidential and vice
\npresidential elections and the agenda for the Annual Session in
\n2003.<\/p>\n
The Annual Session will also hear progress reports by the
\nPresident, the House of Representatives (DPR), the Supreme Court
\n(MA), the State Audit Agency (BPK) and the Supreme Advisory
\nCouncil (DPA).<\/p>\n
After hearing the reports by those high state institutions,
\nthe 700-strong Assembly will then split into three commissions to
\nspecifically discuss the draft amendment, the four drafts of MPR
\ndecrees and the progress reports.<\/p>\n
Each commission will then outline a summary to be submitted to
\na plenary meeting, which will later make the final decision.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the National Awakening Party (PKB) Faction Yusuf
\nMuhammad meanwhile added that the MPR members would also focus on
\nthe progress report by President Megawati Soekarnoputri.<\/p>\n
The progress report, however, will not lead to an evaluation
\nof the performance of the President over the past year. All 12
\nfactions in the MPR agreed that they would not treat the progress
\nreport as an accountability speech.<\/p>",
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