House fuel talks erupt into brawl<\/p>\n
Tony Hotland and Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
A brawl among legislators ended the second day of the House of
\nRepresentatives plenary session to discuss the government's fuel
\nhike policy, leaving the public disgusted by the immaturity of
\ntheir representatives.<\/p>\n
The session was intended to be a follow-up of a stalled
\nsession the night earlier, during which the 10 House factions
\nfailed to agree on whether or not the House should establish a
\npolitical stance on the fuel hike policy.<\/p>\n
Six factions opposed the policy in Tuesday's session, two
\n(Democrat Party and Democratic Pioneer Star Party) supported it,
\nand two (Golkar Party and United Development Party) did not state
\na clear stance.<\/p>\n
Anticipating a possible deadlock, House and faction leaders
\ngathered for a three-hour consultative meeting on Wednesday
\nmorning, which resulted in two voting options.<\/p>\n
First, was to vote whether the House should let the related
\ncommissions hold further discussions with the government on the
\nfuel hike policy, or second, that the House should immediately
\ndecide a stance on the issue. If the second option were picked,
\nanother vote would have to be arranged on whether the House
\nshould accept the policy or reject it.<\/p>\n
However, three factions -- the Indonesian Democratic Party of
\nStruggle (PDI-P), the National Awakening Party, and the
\nProsperous Peace Party -- objected to this mechanism, insisting
\nthat the House immediately vote on whether to accept or reject
\nthe fuel hike.<\/p>\n
Interruptions and objections immediately began flying fast and
\nfurious after House speaker Agung Laksono of Golkar commenced the
\nsession at 3:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Those who disagreed, particularly from PDI-P, started
\nbombarding the leaders with objections and complaining that the
\nplenary session leaders were not taking into account the
\nobjections expressed by the commissions over the policy during a
\nconsultative meeting with the government on Monday night.<\/p>\n
Those who agreed with Agung on the two options responded with
\nloud retorts of their own in the general direction of those who
\nopposed.<\/p>\n
After 45 minutes of verbal sparring without any sign of an
\nagreement, Agung announced that the House would work on the two
\noptions. This prompted two PDI-P faction members to leap up on to
\nthe raised podium of the House to protest the decision.<\/p>\n
Agung, who hails from Golkar, appeared to be cornered by PDI-P
\nmembers, so a number of Golkar men scrambled up on the platform
\nand jostled and argued with PDI-P members.<\/p>\n
A number of legislators from PDI-P followed suit, and the
\nmelee was on, complete with shoving and a few punches by dozens
\nof other lawmakers eager to join or diffuse the fray in front of
\nthe speaker's platform.<\/p>\n
The violence lasted for several minutes with at least two
\nconfirmed knock downs, but apparently no serious injuries. Agung
\nand other House leaders were quickly whisked out of the room, and
\nthe House members started to dissipate after security people
\nintervened.<\/p>\n
In his post-brawl press conference, Agung said he was sorry
\nabout the incident, but blamed it on the immaturity of
\nlegislators and their inability to respond in a civil manner to
\nother people with different opinions.<\/p>\n
The session is scheduled to continue Thursday morning after
\nyet another consultative meeting with faction leaders.<\/p>\n
Separately, Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi quoted President
\nSusilo Bambang Yudhoyono as saying that the government hoped
\nthere would be no more hostility among legislators and that the
\nHouse would find the best solution. The government, he added,
\nwould definitely be open to input from the House over the issue.<\/p>",
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