Legislator's petition signing vexes his party<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The conservative United Development Party (PPP)
\nis unhappy with one of its senior politicians, Matori Abdul
\nDjalil, who recently signed a petition critical of the
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
Matori's action prompted chief of the PPP faction in the House
\nof Representatives, Hamzah Haz, to ban PPP legislators from
\nmaneuvering outside the \"constitutional institution\".<\/p>\n
But Matori played down his faction's warning. He said the
\nfaction had acted undemocratically because it did not bother to
\nsummon him or hear his argument.<\/p>\n
\"The warning only strengthens my belief that our concern with
\nsuppressed democracy and the excessive fear of expressing ideas
\ndo exist,\" Matori told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Hamzah wrote House Speaker Wahono last week saying that the
\nPPP faction was not responsible for what Matori had done because
\nit was not even aware of Matori's actions.<\/p>\n
\"The faction has reminded all PPP House members not to make
\nstatements outside of the constitutional mechanism,\" Hamzah said
\nin the letter, copies of which were made available to reporters.<\/p>\n
Hamzah also sent the copies of the letter to Minister of Home
\nAffairs Moch. Yogie S.M. and Commander of the Armed Forces Gen.
\nFeisal Tanjung, but not to Matori.<\/p>\n
Earlier this year, PPP won notoriety after it fired legislator
\nSri Bintang Pamungkas for his \"overly\" critical views of the
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
Matori, known as an arch rival of PPP chief Ismail Hasan
\nMetareum, was one of the \"July 1 Statement\" signatories who
\nexpressed concern with increasing number of cases of political
\nviolence and the repression of democracy.<\/p>\n
Other prominent signatories included Abdurrahman Wahid, chief
\nof the 30-million-member Nahdlatul Ulama; Lt. Gen. (ret.) Bambang
\nTriantoro, former chief of the Armed Forces sociopolitical
\naffairs; and Lt. Gen. (ret.) M. Kharis Suhud, a former House
\nspeaker.<\/p>\n
The petitioners called on the government and the public to
\nbetter uphold the supremacy of law and go back to the national
\nideals laid down by Indonesia's founding fathers.<\/p>\n
Hamzah issued a circular advising the PPP's House members to
\nstay away from political activities involving the July 1
\nStatement petitioners.<\/p>\n
Hamzah said that Matori does not need to retract his signature
\nbut added that he should not repeat the \"mistake\" in the future.<\/p>\n
Separately, Matori said he was not aware of Hamzah's circular
\nbut said the warning would not deter him from expressing his
\nopinions on the problems facing Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"I think he (Hamzah) wrote the letter out of fear that what I
\nhad done would hurt the party's credibility. So what is a party
\ndependent on the government supposed to do to improve the
\nnation?\" he asked.<\/p>\n
He pointed out that Hamzah should know that being a House
\nmember does not mean that one loses the right to express one's
\nideas.<\/p>\n
He warned that further limitations on the ability of citizens
\nto express their opinions will only make it more difficult for
\nIndonesians in their pursuit of democratic ideals. (pan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/legislators-petition-signing-vexes-his-party-1447893297",
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