Moslem-based PPP approves policy guidelines draft<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The United Development Party (PPP) faction
\napproved a Golkar-sponsored draft amendment to election rules
\nyesterday marking the end of the first stage of a People's
\nConsultative Assembly general session.<\/p>\n
Just an hour before the Assembly session closed, PPP
\nrepresentative Muhammad Buang signed his approval before dozens
\nof journalists, much to the relief of chairman of the Assembly's
\nad hoc committee in charge of state policy guidelines, R.
\nHartono.<\/p>\n
Hartono, his deputy Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, his secretary
\nEdy Waluyo and several other members of the committee including
\nSiti Hardiyanti Rukmana of the dominant faction Golkar, Muladi of
\nthe regional representatives faction, and Soedarjanto of the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party faction, were among the signatories
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
PPP initially opposed the draft, saying there was not enough
\nof a guarantee that it would be implemented because it was only
\nan appendix to the 1998\/2003 State Policy Guidelines.<\/p>\n
PPP faction chief in the Assembly, Jusuf Syakir, said his
\nparty's revised stance was a result of \"a gentleman's agreement\"
\nbetween his faction and Golkar that the government would be
\npushed to review some other election regulations.<\/p>\n
\"We have not buckled down. Instead, we have actually won
\nbecause our demands for the election rules to be improved are now
\nbeing accommodated.<\/p>\n
\"I do believe the government will comply with our agreement.
\nThe prominent signatories serve as a guarantee that our demands
\nwill be fulfilled,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Jusuf said that if the government failed to amend the election
\nrules, PPP would highlight this violation of an Assembly
\nagreement in 2002 general election rallies.<\/p>\n
The draft amendment says the three political organizations
\ncontesting the general election will be \"involved effectively in
\nthe planning, implementation and supervision of the polls from
\nthe top administrative level to village level\".<\/p>\n
In addition, an appendix says each political organization will
\nbe represented on the government-sanctioned team which will
\nregister voters, count ballots, and receive copies of the
\nresults.<\/p>\n
In exchange for the draft amendment to the election rules, all
\nthe five factions in the Assembly agreed to maintain a floating
\nmass policy which has been long accused of curtailing political
\nparties' outreach opportunities.<\/p>\n
The 1,000-member Assembly will regroup in March to endorse the
\nstate policy guidelines and another nine Assembly decrees, and
\nelect a president and vice president.<\/p>\n
Assembly Speaker Harmoko said yesterday the general session
\nwould run as scheduled from March 1 to March 11. (amd)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/moslem-based-ppp-approves-policy-guidelines-draft-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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