Mega complains about DPR's powers<\/p>\n
I Wayan Juniartha, The Jakarta Post, Kuta, Bali<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri expressed concern on Monday over
\nthe increasing powers of the House of Representatives, saying
\nthat it had virtually changed the country's government from a
\npresidential to a parliamentarian system.<\/p>\n
\"From both the theoretical and empirical perspectives, cutting
\ndown the president's authority to produce legislation, and
\nhanding that over to the House, is an understandable thing.<\/p>\n
\"However, behind those understandable steps, all of sudden we
\nfeel how everything has became so blurred. The country's
\ngovernment system, which in its original design was based on the
\npresidential system, and still is according to the 1945
\nConstitution, has, in practice, displayed the characteristics of
\nthe parliamentarian system,\" Megawati said when opening the 8th
\nNational Seminar on the Development of Law in Denpasar, Bali.<\/p>\n
This phenomenon, according to Megawati, had lessened the
\neffectiveness of the execution of the president's directives.<\/p>\n
A few moments before she hit the gong to officially open the
\nfive day-seminar, Megawati told seminar participants that she was
\nnot feeling well. She then asked Minister of Justice and Human
\nRights Yusril Ihza Mahendra to read her speech.<\/p>\n
Following the downfall of former dictator Soeharto in May
\n1998, the House changed from a rubber-stamp institution to a
\npowerful body that controls virtually all institutions in the
\ncountry, including the office of the president.<\/p>\n
In the newly endorsed bill on the composition of the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR), the House, and the Regional
\nRepresentatives Council (DPD), the House has been vested with the
\nright to order police authorities to detain anyone who refuses to
\nmeet a House summons.<\/p>\n
Megawati said the confusion reflected the existence of a wide
\ngap between the hopes the people had in the reform process and
\nthe realities they face.<\/p>\n
\"Through reform we want to achieve the dynamic balance in the
\nrelationship between state institutions, particularly between the
\nPresident, the House of Representatives and the Supreme Court,\"
\nshe said.<\/p>\n
\"We admit that the judicial authority has now became a free
\nand independent authority, and even an authority without
\nsupervision. This authority will in turn encourage the birth of
\nan authority which is a menace to freedom itself,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Responding to the President's speech, former minister of
\njustice Muladi said her concern over the growing power of the
\nHouse was justified.<\/p>\n
\"The President has expressed that concern to me before. She
\ncomplained about the fact that a bill automatically becomes law
\nin 30 days after the House endorses it, regardless of whether the
\nPresident signs it or not,\" Muladi said.<\/p>\n
Some bills, including the one of broadcasting, became law 30
\ndays after they were endorsed by the House despite the fact that
\nthey had not been signed by Megawati.<\/p>\n
Muladi said the planned constitutional court should study and
\nfind an acceptable solution to the problems -- a solution that
\nwould enable the President to perform her duties effectively and
\nat the same time maintain the adequate check-and-balance
\nmechanism between the President and the House.<\/p>\n
The newly amended Constitution has given the government until
\nAug. 17 to establish a constitutional court to settle, among
\nothers, constitutional disputes.<\/p>\n
The commission then recommended that solution to the MPR, the
\nhighest legislative body, which, according to Muladi, has the
\nauthority and legitimacy to solve the problem.<\/p>\n
\"Apparently the House's portion (of power and authority) is
\ntoo much, such that the government feels that it is being
\nobstructed,\" Muladi told.<\/p>\n
\"This problem is the result of a reform process that has gone
\na bit too far,\" he said.<\/p>",
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