House revokes 1985 referendum law<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The four House factions agreed on Monday to
\nrepeal the 1985 Law on Referenda, a historical milestone that has
\nopened the way for amendments to the 1945 Constitution.<\/p>\n
In the plenary session of the House of Representatives (DPR)
\npresided over by Deputy House Speaker Hari Sabarno, Minister of
\nHome Affairs Syarwan Hamid, representing the government,
\ndescribed the law as confusing and disruptive of Indonesia's
\nconstitutional system.<\/p>\n
The now defunct law stipulated the application of a direct
\nreferendum before any amendment could be made to the
\nConstitution, a violation of the representative democratic system
\nthat Indonesia adheres to.<\/p>\n
\"This is an historical milestone ... along the path of
\ndemocratization toward a civil society,\" Syarwan was quoted by
\nAntara as telling members of Golkar, the Armed Forces (ABRI), the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party (PDI) and the United Development
\nParty (PPP) factions.<\/p>\n
He pointed out how the Constitution itself does not have any
\nrulings on referenda.<\/p>\n
PPP spokesman Djufrie Asmoredjo said the law has effectively
\nobstructed any attempts at improving the Constitution.<\/p>\n
Golkar spokesman H.R. Hariono conceded the law was prepared at
\na time when there was an excessive fear of any notion of changing
\nthe Constitution, so much so that the document was treated as
\nsacred.<\/p>\n
Critics have said the Constitution needs to be amended so that
\nit can better protect, for instance, press freedom. The New Order
\nregime under Soeharto, however, effectively thwarted any motions
\nto introduce changes by branding people who initiated them as
\nsubversive.<\/p>\n
This was despite the fact that the Constitution itself
\nstipulates that amendments simply need the backing of two-thirds
\nof the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).<\/p>\n
The motion to annul the 1985 Law on Referenda was contained in
\na bill consisting only of two articles imposing the revocation of
\nthe previous law and the immediate application of the new. This
\nwas the document that was endorsed by the House on Monday.<\/p>\n
The 1985 referendum law was seen as part and parcel of the
\nmuch criticized New Order's five political laws; the laws on
\nelections, on political parties, on Golkar and mass
\norganizations, and on the structure and position of the MPR\/DPR.
\n(swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/house-revokes-1985-referendum-law-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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