Govt factions dismiss fear of authoritarianism<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Three factions in favor of a motion to grant the
\nnext president extra power strove yesterday to appease some
\npeople's concern that it would lead to authoritarianism.<\/p>\n
Dominant Golkar, which initiated the campaign, and its
\ntraditional allies, the Armed Forces and regional representatives
\nfactions, reiterated yesterday their support for a People's
\nConsultative Assembly decree that will allow the president to
\ntake emergency measures when national unity and development
\nprograms are endangered.<\/p>\n
While the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) faction finally
\ngave its approval yesterday, fellow minority faction the United
\nDevelopment Party (PPP) remains the last hurdle in Golkar's plan.<\/p>\n
The Moslem-based faction has said it would agree to Golkar's
\ndraft only if it was incorporated in the State Policy Guidelines,
\nrather than a separate MPR decree.<\/p>\n
Golkar spokesman Slamet Effendy Yusuf told an Assembly ad hoc
\ncommittee session that even with the decree the president could
\nnot exercise the authority arbitrarily.<\/p>\n
\"We expect that everything will go through democratic means
\nand the (establishment) of a democratic society requires that all
\ndynamics run ... (in accordance to) national consensus,\" Slamet
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He said excessive worry about as yet unforeseeable situations
\nthat could endanger the country was not behind Golkar's bid for
\nthe draft. Instead, he said, the dominant political group offered
\nan anticipative measure.<\/p>\n
\"Disturbances, let alone those occurring in such a
\nheterogeneous society (as Indonesia) ... will not be conducive
\nfor democracy to blossom,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Armed Forces faction spokesman, Achmad Roestandi, said the
\ndraft decree stipulates conditions that a president must fulfill
\nbefore exercising extra power.<\/p>\n
\"The president must first consult the House of
\nRepresentatives, and he or she must deliver his or her
\naccountability to the Assembly,\" Roestandi said.<\/p>\n
He said the extra authority, should the proposed decree be
\naccepted, was by no means a recommendation for the president to
\ndeclare a state of emergency for the country.<\/p>\n
PDI had previously opposed the motion but made an about face
\nyesterday. Its spokesman Ismunandar said the reinstatement of the
\nAssembly decree, after five years in slumber, should not harm
\nIndonesia's international image and cause capital flight or
\nfrighten foreign investors.<\/p>\n
The decree was introduced in 1966 by the Provisional Assembly
\nand was renewed in each of the previous five-yearly general
\nsessions of the Assembly since 1973.<\/p>\n
PPP spokesman Zein Badjeber said the faction rejected the
\nconcerted plan to establish a separate decree on extra
\npresidential power.<\/p>\n
\"We understand this decree is very important, but let's not
\nseparate the extra authority from another presidential job to
\nimplement the State Policy Guidelines,\" he said. (amd)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-factions-dismiss-fear-of-authoritarianism-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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