Golkar to draft 'security' decree<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The ruling Golkar plans to draw up its own draft
\nof a state policy that would grant a president preemptive powers
\nagainst subversive activities, its chairman said yesterday.<\/p>\n
Harmoko said the political group had learned of and been
\nconcerned about various mass riots in the past and decided to
\nsubmit its draft of the policy to the People's Consultative
\nAssembly (MPR) when it convenes next March.<\/p>\n
Harmoko's statement came on the heel of recent controversy
\nover the three political organizations' motion to reintroduce the
\n1988 decree of the People's Consultative Assembly which would
\ngive additional power to the next president elected in March next
\nyear.<\/p>\n
However, Harmoko said that Golkar's draft would be \"totally
\ndifferent\" from the 1988 decree.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia will face stiffer challenges and the potential for
\nsocial disturbances in the coming globalization and trade
\nliberalization era,\" he told reporters after receiving a
\ndelegation of Golkar-affiliated ulemas.<\/p>\n
Harmoko, who is also State Minister of Special Assignments,
\nsaid Indonesia therefore needed a new policy that would prepare
\nit for the new challenges, and which would protect national
\ndevelopment programs.<\/p>\n
Though claiming the content of Golkar's security draft would
\nbe different from the 1988 MPR decree, Harmoko admitted that it
\nwas \"in the same spirit\".<\/p>\n
\"The decree aims at preparing (the nation) for 21st century
\nchallenges and disturbances,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The 1988 decree granted the President the authority to take
\npreemptive measures against security disturbances and subversive
\nactivities. It was adopted as part of Indonesia's Broad
\nGuidelines of State Policies in 1988, but was later dropped from
\nthe guidelines in 1993.<\/p>\n
The decree was first adopted in 1966 and was maintained until
\nthe 1988 general session of MPR. It formed the basis for the now
\ndefunct Kopkamtib (Operational Command for the Restoration of
\nSecurity and Order) which, in the 1970s, was given the task of
\nhandling major social and political crises. The body was not only
\nsuccessful in fulfilling its objectives, but was also feared.
\n(imn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/golkar-to-draft-security-decree-1447893297",
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