House wants to soon commence debate on political bills<\/p>\n
Muhammad Nafik
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
The House of Representatives insisted on Monday that the
\ndeliberation of three long-awaited political bills would commence
\nat least late this month.<\/p>\n
However, the draft laws -- the political party bill, the
\nelection bill and the formation and position of the House and the
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly (MPR) -- were not on the agenda
\nreleased by the House's Secretariat for discussion during the
\nnext three-month session.<\/p>\n
The legislature even failed to set a deadline as to when the
\nnew bills should be passed into law.<\/p>\n
Analysts have repeatedly warned the House and the government
\nthat the delay in debating the bills could threaten the
\npreparations for the 2004 general election.<\/p>\n
In his speech during Monday's opening session, Deputy House
\nSpeaker Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno emphasized the urgency of the
\nimmediate debate on the draft laws.<\/p>\n
"The revision of the (existing) political laws is very
\nimportant for the General Election Commission (KPU) to prepare
\nfor the 2004 elections. Therefore, the government and the House
\nshould soon discuss and complete the passage of the (three new)
\npolitical bills," he said.<\/p>\n
In addition, Soetardjo said a new bill on the presidency would
\nalso be deliberated soon "because the draft law is extremely
\nimportant and is closely related with the implementation of the
\n2004 elections."<\/p>\n
Teras Narang, chairman of the House's Commission II dealing
\nwith laws, justice and human rights, urged the government to
\nsubmit at least two of the bills to the legislature by the end of
\nMay for deliberation.<\/p>\n
The two draft laws in question are the political party bill
\nand the election bill, which were still with the Ministry of Home
\nAffairs.<\/p>\n
Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno said last week the
\ngovernment was prepared to file the bills in the near future, but
\ndid not say when.<\/p>\n
Constitutional law experts and political observers have
\naccused the government of deliberately buying time for its own
\npolitical interests and the interests of other ruling elite.<\/p>\n
"In this case the government is making political
\ncalculations," Satya Arinanto, a constitutional law expert at the
\nUniversity of Indonesia, told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Apart from the legislation program, the House will start
\nshortlisting 34 people, including Hendardi, Warda Hafidz and
\nHabib Hirzin, for membership of the National Commission on Human
\nRights (Komnas HAM).<\/p>\n
At the same time, it would also begin the required fit and
\nproper tests on the about 70 people whose names were put forward
\nas new supreme court justices.<\/p>\n
Bills to be deliberated or passed into law:<\/p>\n
1. Labor guidance and protection
\n2. Corruption eradication commission
\n3. Presidential institution
\n4. Medical practice
\n5. Sports affairs
\n6. Bank loans
\n7. Protection for children
\n8. Mechanism to enact law guidelines
\n9. State finance
\n10. State treasury
\n11. Presidential pardon
\n12. Freedom to obtain public information
\n13. Establishment of a Riau Islands province
\n14. Creation of new regencies
\n15. Broadcasting bill
\n16. National education
\n17. Settlement of industrial disputes
\n18. Electricity
\n19. National knowledge and technology systems
\n20. Building
\n21. Advocate profession
\n22. Property rights<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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