Impeachment law needed to prosecute presidents<\/p>\n
BANDUNG (JP): Indonesia needs a law to impeach a president,
\nconstitutional law expert Sri Soemantri says.<\/p>\n
Soemantri said that Indonesia had no regulation on crimes
\ncommitted by a president nor an appropriate institution to take
\nhim or her to court.<\/p>\n
There have been mounting calls for a law to bring erring
\npresidents to court, owing to the government being expected to
\nsoon declare former president Soeharto free of all charges.<\/p>\n
\"The idea to draft such a bill is not a new one. It was
\ndiscussed in the past, but instead what came up was a law on the
\npresidency as an institution,\" Soemantri said here recently.<\/p>\n
The Attorney General's Office is expected to unveil the
\nresults of its year-long investigation into Soeharto's alleged
\ncorruption on Friday.<\/p>\n
Politically, a president is accountable to the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR) for the implementation of the State
\nPolicy Guidelines, Soemantri said, but for other crimes committed
\nit is difficult to prosecute a president.<\/p>\n
Such a law exists in the United States, he said, citing the
\nlaw that was invoked to bring about President Bill Clinton's
\nimpeachment trial.<\/p>\n
The 1945 Constitution provides wide-ranging authority to the
\ncountry's president, a fact that has been proven to overshadow
\nthe legislative and judicial branches.<\/p>\n
\"Partial amendment to the 1945 Constitution or even a new
\nconstitution is needed. As the highest state institution, the MPR
\nhas the right and the authority to do the job,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Soemantri doubted that the upcoming MPR General Session would
\namend the Constitution, saying that it would only end up with
\nsetting up a team or a special commission to change the contents
\nof the Constitution.<\/p>\n
According to MPR Decree No. 10\/1998, he said, President
\nHabibie will give his accountability speech to the newly elected
\nMPR members. Ideally, he said, the President should address his
\naccountability speech to the MPR members who installed him.<\/p>\n
He said the decree could be changed, but clearly it would not
\nbe applicable to Habibie's accountability for the past year.
\n(43\/06)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/impeachment-law-needed-to-prosecute-presidents-1447893297",
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