More experts join call for new constitution<\/p>\n
Jupriadi Asmaradhana, The Jakarta Post, Makassar<\/p>\n
Two experts have joined in the chorus of non-governmental
\norganizations (NGOs) by calling for a new constitution amid the
\nuncertain future of amendments being made to the 1945
\nConstitution.<\/p>\n
Lawyer Adnan Buyung Nasution said at a seminar here on
\nSaturday that it would be better for the nation to craft a
\ntotally new constitution, one that recognized changes brought
\nabout during the reform era, rather than allow the political
\nelite to fail due to dispute over crucial matters in the
\nConstitution.<\/p>\n
\"Instead of bickering over amendments to the Constitution, it
\nwould be better for the nation to make a new constitution, one
\nfar better than the current one,\" he said at the seminar
\norganized by the Golkar Party's South Sulawesi office.<\/p>\n
An alliance of NGOs grouped in the Center for Electoral Reform
\n(Cetro) has called for an independent commission to design a new
\nconstitution that would serve the nation well into the future.
\nCetro claims that the Assembly will not be able to amend the
\nConstitution because of individuals' vested interests.<\/p>\n
Amendment to the Constitution appears to be in danger of
\nstalling due to conflicting interests over crucial matters in the
\nConstitution on the part of factions within the People
\nConsultative Assembly.<\/p>\n
Besides facing internal division, the Indonesian Democratic
\nParty of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) opposes the proposal of other
\nmajor factions that direct presidential electoral and district
\nelectoral systems be adopted, saying the nation was not ready for
\nit.<\/p>\n
Buyung, who composed a thesis on the 1945 Constitution to
\nobtain his doctorate degree, said that because of the deadlock in
\nthe amendment talks, it would be better to hold a referendum to
\nallow the people to choose which system to adopt.<\/p>\n
Historian Anwar Gonggong said the nation should return to the
\ninterim constitution (UUDS) which he said was more democratic
\nthan the 1945 Constitution.<\/p>\n
\"The interim constitution had 26 chapters on human rights and
\nsix chapters on communal rights,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Both Buyung and Anhar were of the opinion that the new
\nconstitution should adopt the current one's preamble to maintain
\nthe unitary stage and its ideology.<\/p>\n
Indria Samego, a political observer from the National
\nInstitute of Sciences (LIPI), called on politicians, especially
\nfactions at the Assembly, to put aside their political interests
\nin amending the Constitution.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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