Experts warn of dealing on amendments<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
As the Annual Session of the People's Consultative Assembly
\ndraws near, experts are warning of possible backroom dealing by
\npoliticians seeking to smooth the way for amendments to the 1945
\nConstitution.<\/p>\n
The two largest factions in the Assembly, the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party of Struggle and the Golkar Party, already have
\ntacitly agreed to resolve their differences on the two most
\ncrucial issues surrounding the amendments -- the composition of
\nthe Assembly and the system for the presidential election.<\/p>\n
The factions also appear to have reached an agreement to
\nretain nonelected representatives of the military and the police
\nin the legislature until 2009.<\/p>\n
Sri Soemantri, a constitutional law expert from Bandung-based
\nPadjadjaran University, slammed such backroom dealing between the
\nAssembly factions, saying it would ultimately damage the
\nsubstance of the Constitution.<\/p>\n
"Those factions should see the importance of the Constitution
\nas the basic law for the long-term life of this nation and
\ncountry, and not as a project involving political interests," he
\ntold The Jakarta Post on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Soemantri said legislators should not bargain over the
\nprinciples of the reform movement, which among other things
\ndemands direct presidential elections and an end to nonelected
\nseats in the legislature.<\/p>\n
Hadar N. Gumay from the Center for Electoral Reform agreed,
\nsaying the country should abandon all forms of nonelected
\nrepresentation, which he said undermined democracy.<\/p>\n
Non-party groups such as the Indonesian Military could still
\nplay an important role from outside the legislature, by providing
\nelected representatives with their opinions, suggestions and
\ncriticisms.<\/p>\n
"This is more effective. Many developed countries like the
\nUnited States have done this. The main point is the aspirations
\n(of these groups) are still heard and accommodated by political
\nparties," he told the Post.<\/p>\n
The Assembly's ad hoc committee on the constitutional
\namendments is slated to meet on Monday to debate a supplementary
\narticle that would grant seats in the legislature to the military
\nand the police until 2009.<\/p>\n
The feeling among politicians on the committee is that they
\nwould prefer to retain the military and police's seats in the
\nAssembly through the supplementary article, according to Ali
\nMasykur Musa of the National Awakening Party (PKB).<\/p>\n
Ali, the secretary of the ad hoc committee, nevertheless said
\nthe committee members would likely reach deals on the composition
\nof the Assembly and the system of presidential elections.<\/p>\n
As for the composition of the Assembly, the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) is likely to
\ncompromise and accept a proposal from Golkar and the PKB -- that
\nthe Assembly will consist of legislators from the House of
\nRepresentatives and the Regional Representatives Council.<\/p>\n
This means that all members of the House and the Assembly
\nwould be elected through general elections.<\/p>\n
As for presidential elections, Golkar and other factions
\nappear ready to go along with PDI Perjuangan's proposal that if
\nno candidate wins in a direct election, the second round of the
\npresidential election would be carried out by the Assembly.<\/p>\n
Both Soemantri and Hadar criticized this proposed system,
\nsaying the people, not the Assembly, must be the ones to elect
\ntheir leaders.<\/p>\n
"If the election is held in the Assembly, as suggested by PDI
\nPerjuangan, then it is not a direct election," Soemantri
\nremarked.<\/p>\n
Hadar added that should no presidential candidate secure the
\nrequired number of votes, the top two vote-getters should go
\nforward into a run-off election.<\/p>\n
He said that holding a run-off presidential election would not
\nbe as expensive as holding the first round, at about 30 percent
\nto 80 percent of the cost.<\/p>",
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