Fears grow of delay in General Session<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Senior political figures have voiced strong
\nconcern that the upcoming General Session of the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR) might be postponed, after a top
\nmilitary official earlier warned that security conditions were
\nnot conducive for the all-important political event.<\/p>\n
Deputy chairman of the Golkar Party Marzuki Darusman, National
\nMandate Party (PAN) chairman Amien Rais and United Development
\nParty (PPP) chairman Hamzah Haz all cautioned against any delay.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Military (TNI) deputy commander Adm. Widodo A.S.
\nwarned on Monday that the current situation was not conducive for
\nthe General Session in November.<\/p>\n
As evidence for his claim, Widodo cited the continuing
\nbickering among political elites, members of whom have not shown
\nany commitment to settling their differences.<\/p>\n
However he stopped short of saying that the military would
\nrecommend the General Session be postponed.<\/p>\n
Marzuki pointed out on Tuesday that the public expected the
\nsession to be held as planned. \"If it is delayed it will raise
\nmore complicated consequences ahead,\" he said.<\/p>\n
However, Marzuki stressed the need to first verify whether
\nWidodo made the statement on behalf of the military, or in a
\npersonal capacity.<\/p>\n
Marzuki speculated that Widodo was seeking to remind all
\npolitical parties on the need for consensus to guarantee a smooth
\nAssembly session.<\/p>\n
\"If it's an official statement made by the military in order
\nto delay the General Session, then we're talking about something
\ndifferent.<\/p>\n
\"But if the statement is meant to remind us, then I think he's
\nright in that we need to have a consensus among the political
\nparties to ensure a smooth session,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Separately, Amien Rais said the session should not be delayed
\nunless there was a concrete reason.<\/p>\n
\"If it is delayed, the situation will be completely chaotic,\"
\nhe said. \"People will loose their faith in democracy.\"<\/p>\n
PPP chairman Hamzah Haz conceded that the President and the
\nAssembly Speaker had the prerogative to delay the session.
\nHowever, he said the President must have tangible grounds for any
\nsuch action.<\/p>\n
\"If a security reason like East Timor is used as an excuse to
\ndelay the sessions, then it is invalid, and there is no reason to
\ndo so. We have already allowed a international peacekeeping force
\nto handle the situation there,\" Hamzah said.<\/p>\n
The session itself is scheduled to be held in early November.
\nThe first part of the process will begin on Oct. 1 with the
\nswearing in of new Assembly members.<\/p>\n
Separately in Purwokerto, Central Java, political scientist
\nRubiyanto Misman strongly protested the proposed delay of the
\nsession, saying a postponement would further complicate the
\nnational scene.<\/p>\n
\"Given the current state of the nation, it's really like
\nfacing someone who's acutely ill. The best thing to do is to seek
\nmedical treatment as soon as possible,\" said Rubiyanto, who is
\nalso rector of Jenderal Soedirman University. (emf\/45)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/fears-grow-of-delay-in-general-session-1447893297",
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