Factions down on 'syariah', muted on TNI<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The People's Consultative Assembly's major
\nfactions showed strong resistance on Thursday to the proposed
\ninclusion of syariah Islamic law in the 1945 Constitution but
\nwere less certain about expelling the military and police from
\nthe Assembly.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan)
\nfaction, asserted that Article 29 of the Constitution on
\nreligious affairs should be maintained and that there was no need
\nto add the phrase kewajiban menjalankan syariah Islam bagi para
\npemeluknya (an obligation for Muslims to comply with Islamic law)
\nto it.<\/p>\n
The largest faction in the Assembly described the article as
\nfundamental to maintaining pluralism in the country.<\/p>\n
\"We call on all parties, both in the Assembly and in the
\nIndonesian nation, to jointly preserve the foundations of the
\nnation. Let us maintain Article 29 of the Constitution in its
\noriginal form,\" the faction said in a speech read by Yoseph
\nUmarhadi.<\/p>\n
The 11 factions were giving their responses on Thursday to
\nproposals presented by MPR ad hoc committees.<\/p>\n
Article 29 stipulates that the state shall be based on belief
\nin one supreme God.<\/p>\n
It also guarantees every citizen the freedom to adhere to
\ntheir religion or faith and perform their religious duties.<\/p>\n
In commenting on the role of the military and police, PDI
\nPerjuangan simply said the country needed a professional and
\neffective army and police.<\/p>\n
It refrained from commenting on growing demands that the
\nIndonesian Military (TNI) and National Police (Polri) vacate
\ntheir 38 seats in the Assembly.<\/p>\n
\"The draft decree on the role of the TNI and National Police
\nneeds further discussion,\" the faction noted.<\/p>\n
The draft amendment to the Constitution's article on the
\ncomposition of the Assembly says the legislative body should
\ninclude \"certain interest groups\" who, because of their duties
\nand tasks, should not have voting rights. Many have interpreted
\nthe article as allowing TNI\/Polri a role in the Assembly.<\/p>\n
On the religious amendment, the Golkar faction said: \"Our
\nstate is based on one God almighty. This shows that Indonesia is
\nneither a secular state nor one based on religion\".<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia is a state where all religions can live together in
\nharmony and respect each other, and where they are protected by
\nthe law,\" faction spokesman Hajriyanto Y. Thohari said.<\/p>\n
Golkar praised the military's decision to abandon politics,
\nand urged the Assembly to find a solution to the debate on the
\nmilitary presence in legislative bodies.<\/p>\n
\"Our next problem is how to accommodate and guarantee the
\nrepresentation of the TNI\/National Police in the MPR, as they can
\nnot use their right to vote,\" it said.<\/p>\n
The United Development Party (PPP) faction along with some
\nother small Muslim-based parties proposed the inclusion of
\nIslamic law in the Constitution.<\/p>\n
\"It is baseless if certain people regard the adoption of the
\nobligation to carry out Islamic law in the 1945 Constitution as a
\ndisaster for the nation,\" the faction said.<\/p>\n
On the military, it said: \"PPP faction is of the opinion that
\nin developing democracy and in line with the nation's political
\nmaturity, TNI\/Polri should not exercise their right to vote and
\nbe elected.\"<\/p>\n
The Crescent Star Party faction supported the amendment to
\nArticle 29, saying that the additional seven words to the article
\nserved to elaborate the 1945 Constitution stipulation on
\nreligion.<\/p>\n
In its speech read by Hamdan Zoelva, the faction said that as
\nIndonesia was a predominantly Muslim country it would be better
\nif Muslims truly carried out their religious duties.<\/p>\n
The amendment of the article could be a solution to the moral
\ndegradation that is plaguing the country, it said.<\/p>\n
\"The seven words are not meant to force followers of other
\nreligions to comply with Islamic law nor to undermine people with
\ndifferent faiths.<\/p>\n
\"Islamic law guarantees the freedom of people to differ in
\nfaiths,\" it said.<\/p>\n
On Army\/Police representation at the Assembly, the faction
\nsaid it supported the gradual withdrawal of the institutions from
\nthe Assembly.<\/p>\n
The Reform faction did not elaborate its stance on religion,
\nonly saying that the article on religion should be maintained and
\nstrengthened.<\/p>\n
The faction also stated that all Assembly members should be
\nelected by the people, thereby eliminating appointed members and
\ninterest group factions.<\/p>\n
\"That also goes for the House of Representative. We think that
\nall House members must be elected through direct elections,\" said
\nfaction speaker Zirlyrosa Jamil.<\/p>\n
The TNI\/Polri faction did not directly touch on its presence
\nin the Assembly, saying: \" The military and the police will be
\nneutral and not involved in any political practices. All
\nTNI\/Polri members will not exercise their right to vote or to be
\nelected,\" faction speaker Budi Harsono said.<\/p>\n
Outside the Assembly hall, opposition against the proposed
\namendment to Article 29 of the Constitution could also be found.
\nLeading Muslim organizations, including Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and
\nMuhammadiyah, said that the proposal was a setback and could lead
\nto national disintegration.<\/p>\n
Noted Muslim scholar Nurcholish Madjid, NU chairman Hasyim
\nMuzadi and his Muhammadiyah counterpart Syafi'ie Ma'arief said at
\na joint media conference:<\/p>\n
\"We reject the plan. Such an obligation to abide by Islamic
\nlaw is down to the Muslim individual, not public institutions or
\nthe state. Furthermore, the state has no right to stipulate to
\nsociety on how it must carry out its beliefs,\" Hasyim said.<\/p>\n
Another Muslim scholar, Masdar Farid Masudi, said that the
\ninclusion of Islamic law in the Constitution could lead to state
\nintervention into people's religious freedom.<\/p>\n
\"Islamic teachings should serve as the source of inspiration
\nwhen running the state, instead of inspiring some political
\nparties to pursue their temporary interests,\" Masdar said. (team)<\/p>",
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