Lawmaking to be more open<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta<\/p>\n
House of Representatives factions and the government agreed on
\nMonday to provide the public at large with greater access to the
\nlegislative deliberation process at all governmental levels
\nthroughout the country.<\/p>\n
The agreement was reached during a meeting between Minister of
\nJustice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra and the House
\nspecial committee in charge of deliberating the lawmaking
\nprocedures bill.<\/p>\n
Previously, a number of non-governmental organizations grouped
\nin the Coalition for Participatory Policies had called for
\nincreased access to ensure public participation in the country's
\nlawmaking process.<\/p>\n
\"We are really surprised that the legislators have acceded to
\nour demand. We will encourage the public to submit their opinions
\nto the legislators,\" said Afrizal Tjoetra, the coordinator of the
\ncoalition.<\/p>\n
Following the agreement, the House is expected to bring the
\nlegislative procedures bill to a plenary meeting on May 24 for
\nendorsement. The bill if passed will, however, take effect only
\nafter Nov. 1, pending the establishment of the Regional
\nRepresentatives Council (DPD), which is also covered by the bill.<\/p>\n
The government, however, has rejected the idea of extending
\npublic access to the formulation and drafting of government
\nregulations, arguing that these processes come within the
\nprerogative of the President.<\/p>\n
Nia Sjarifuddin, an activist in the coalition, said public
\nparticipation in the lawmaking process was essential if
\nlegislation and regulations were to be accepted by the public.<\/p>\n
So far, the constitutionality of 30 statutes has been
\nchallenged in the Constitutional Court since it was established
\nlast year.<\/p>\n
Other statutes that have sparked controversy are Law No.
\n20\/2002 on the electricity industry, Law No. 32\/2002 on
\nbroadcasting, Law No.11\/2003 on the partition of Riau province,
\nLaw No. 13\/2003 on manpower, Law No. 16\/2003 on terrorism, Law
\nNo. 18\/2003 on the advocate's profession, Law No. 45\/1999 on the
\npartition of Papua province, and the Water Resources Law.<\/p>\n
\"These examples clearly reflect the fact that the lawmaking
\nprocess does not involve public participation. Therefore, the
\nlaws are not accepted by the public,\" Nia added.<\/p>\n
Nia said that her fellow activists in the coalition fully
\nunderstood that their participation in the lawmaking process
\nwould be limited.<\/p>\n
\"But at least, we will be able to influence the deliberations
\non a bill right from the very beginning,\" she said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/lawmaking-to-be-more-open-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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