Minority, dominant factions differ on reforms<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The minority parties pressed ahead yesterday
\nwith their demands for clean governance and political reform to
\nbe included in the State Policy Guidelines for the next five
\nyears while government factions in the People's Consultative
\nAssembly downplayed the need for change.<\/p>\n
The five factions in the 1,000-strong Assembly -- Golkar, the
\nArmed Forces (ABRI), The United Development Party (PPP),
\nIndonesian Democratic Party (PDI) and regional representatives --
\nwere exchanging views on the draft of the 1998-2003 guidelines
\nand their accompanying bylaws.<\/p>\n
The minority PPP and PDI demanded that the next government
\ntake concrete steps to end the widespread corruption in the
\nbureaucracy and monopolistic practices they blamed for the
\nwidening disparity that led to the economic crisis.<\/p>\n
They said it was unrealistic to hope for a quick recovery from
\nthe hardships unless the government initiated a political
\noverhaul along with the economic reform prescribed by the
\nInternational Monetary Fund.<\/p>\n
The PDI dismissed the 1998-2003 draft State Policy Guidelines
\nas \"too optimistic\" because they were drafted before the full
\neffects of the crisis became apparent.<\/p>\n
The government-backed Golkar faction acknowledged the
\nincreasing demand for government bureaucrats to be \"more open\" to
\nthe wishes of the people they are supposed to serve.<\/p>\n
It underlined the need for government officials to improve
\ntheir service standards, professionalism, discipline and
\nintegrity.<\/p>\n
The powerful ABRI and regional representatives, which usually
\ntake the same stand as Golkar on fundamental issues, accepted the
\ndraft prepared by the Assembly working committee that comprises
\nrepresentatives from the five factions.<\/p>\n
The draft will be finalized on Friday and Saturday.<\/p>\n
PPP spokesman Endin A.J. Soefihara pointed out that corrupt
\npractices in the bureaucracy could be traced from the
\ngovernment's policy to require civil servants to support \"a
\ncertain grouping\", an obvious reference to Golkar.<\/p>\n
\"One way to create clean governance is to free civil servants
\nfrom such a political burden so they can serve no one but the
\npeople regardless of their background,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Favoritism<\/p>\n
The Moslem-based party was also steadfast in its longstanding
\ndemand for the government to stop favoring Golkar in general
\nelections over the minority parties<\/p>\n
\"There is no way to defeat the political organization (Golkar)
\nbecause it has the support of the military and the bureaucracy,\"
\nanother PPP spokesman, Muhammad Kaoy Syah, said.<\/p>\n
PPP and PDI repeated their long-held demand that political
\norganizations should be allowed to establish branch offices at
\nall administrative levels, from the provincial down to the
\nvillage.<\/p>\n
\"This would allow them to have direct contact with their
\nsupporters at the grassroots level,\" PDI faction spokesman
\nAnthonius Rahail said.<\/p>\n
Under the present laws, PPP, PDI and Golkar are allowed to
\nopen branch offices only down to the regency level. PPP and PDI
\ncharge that this policy benefits Golkar because all
\nadministrative chiefs are required to become Golkar members,
\ngiving village chiefs a free hand to mobilize support for Golkar.<\/p>\n
PPP and PDI also demanded that they be involved in all
\nplanning and implementation stages of the general election.<\/p>\n
Golkar, through one of its senior members Siti Hardiyanti
\nRukmana, President Soeharto's eldest daughter, stressed the need
\nto stop power abuses in the bureaucracy.<\/p>\n
\"Corruption, collusion, nepotism and other forms of abuse of
\npower will hamper the implementation of development,\" she said.
\n\"Only after the problem is resolved will the much-idealized clean
\nand respectable government come about.\"<\/p>\n
But Golkar rejected calls for the guidelines to be revised.
\nHardiyanti said they already allowed the government to take all
\nnecessary steps in case of unexpected crises as is happening now.<\/p>\n
On religious affairs, the ABRI faction agreed with the PPP
\nproposal that future guidelines should include a clause
\nrecommending that mystical believers should be made to choose one
\nof the five religions sanctioned by the government.<\/p>\n
The PPP argued that the Constitution guarantees the rights of
\nreligious believers, not mystical believers. (team)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/minority-dominant-factions-differ-on-reforms-1447893297",
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