Independent commission still being sought<\/p>\n
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Dozens of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) criticized on
\nThursday the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) for its
\nreluctance to establish an independent constitutional commission
\ntasked to amend the Constitution.<\/p>\n
The organizations, grouped in the NGOs Coalition for New
\nConstitution, said although all factions in the Assembly realized
\nthe importance of the commission, they were still reluctant to
\nmeet the public demand.<\/p>\n
\"We believe that the Assembly's Annual Session is the moment
\nto make a decision in the establishment of the independent
\nconstitutional commission ... We hope that the Assembly will make
\nthe future of the nation their priority,\" said a statement read
\nduring a press conference on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Major parties in the Assembly have agreed to the formation of
\nthe constitutional commission. But this issue is not included in
\ndrafts of decisions prepared for the Annual Session taking place
\nfrom Nov. 1 to Nov. 10.<\/p>\n
In the statement, read by Binny Buchori of the International
\nNGO Forum on Indonesian Development (Infid), the coalition
\nstressed the need for a comprehensive reform of the 1945
\nConstitution.<\/p>\n
The coalition said that a constitutional amendment carried out
\nby the Assembly's ad hoc committee would not be able to
\naccommodate participation by the people.<\/p>\n
\"This means the Constitution will only be understood by the
\nelite group, not by the people,\" it said, adding that the failure
\nto create the commission would only prolong constitutional crisis
\nwhich may cause continuous political conflict.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Hadar N. Gumay of the Center for Electoral Reform
\n(Cetro), stressed that a direct presidential electoral system,
\nagreed to by all Assembly factions, still raised questions.<\/p>\n
\"We still do not know what kind of system. If the two-stage
\nelectoral system is still used, in this current political
\ncondition, our next president will be elected again by the
\nAssembly not directly by the people,\" said Hadar.<\/p>\n
With the two-level election system, if a winning candidate
\ncannot collect 50+1 percent of votes, the president would be
\ndecided by the Assembly.<\/p>\n
\"It is unlikely now that a candidate will win 50+1 percent
\nvotes based on experience in the latest general elections,\"
\naccording to Hadar.<\/p>\n
The coalition members among others include Cetro, Infid, the
\nResearch Institute and People Advocacy (Elsam), the Indonesian
\nCorruption Watch (ICW), the Independent Journalist Association
\n(AJI) and the Institute for Social Engineering (INSE).<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/independent-commission-still-being-sought-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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