DPR empowers itself with subpoena rights<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives (DPR) on Thursday
\ndecided to give itself the right to subpoena citizens, including
\nthe president, and to impose one year prison sentences on those
\nwho fail to meet its summons.<\/p>\n
The House entered a clause covering the issue into the
\ngovernment-sponsored bill on the structure of the country's
\nlegislatures that it is currently deliberating.<\/p>\n
\"Government officials (including the president) and private
\ncitizens are included in the clause,\" legislator Budi Harsono
\nsaid after emerging from a session deliberating the bill.<\/p>\n
He said the sanction would be carefully exercised.<\/p>\n
\"Only failures to meet subpoenas which concern state interests
\nwill be sanctioned,\" said Budi from the Armed Forces (ABRI)
\nfaction.<\/p>\n
The sanction would be exercised in accordance with existing
\nlegal procedures in which the DPR -- through its commissions --
\nis entitled to lodge complaints with the courts, he said.<\/p>\n
The DPR's right to subpoena is currently only stated in its
\ninternal rules, which are not binding to parties outside the
\nHouse.<\/p>\n
According to the 1945 Constitution, the House has six rights:
\nto submit inquiries to the president, to investigate, to amend
\ndraft laws, to initiate draft laws, to query and to air opinions,
\nand to nominate people for certain government positions.<\/p>\n
The bill -- scheduled to be passed on Jan. 12 along with the
\nbill on political parties -- will also give the House the right
\nto draft its own budget and internal rules.<\/p>\n
Also agreed upon during Thursday's deliberation session were
\nstipulations on the responsibilities and authority of provincial
\nand local legislatures (DPRD) and rules governing the conduct of
\nmembers of all the country's legislatures, Budi said.<\/p>\n
Budi said the factions had agreed to spell out the authority
\nand responsibilities of the DPRDs in the new law on the structure
\nof the country's legislatures.<\/p>\n
DPRDs are currently governed by the 1974 law on provincial
\nadministrations, which states that DPRDs are part of provincial
\nadministrations.<\/p>\n
DPRDs would be accorded rights similar to the DPR, Budi said.<\/p>\n
For instance, a provincial DPRD would have the right to
\nsuggest appointing or dismissing a governor, with the president
\nonly responsible for ceremonial aspects of the process.<\/p>\n
Regency level DPRDs would be entitled to directly appoint
\nregents, with the president again restricted to a ceremonial
\nrole, Budi added. (aan)<\/p>",
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