MPR criticized for failing to realize expectations<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A coalition of 22 non-governmental organizations
\n(Ornop and Aman) condemned on Tuesday the failure of the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR) to support a direct presidential
\nelection, and questioned the Assembly members' commitment to
\ndemocratization.<\/p>\n
The coalition demanded a national referendum to gauge people's
\naspirations about a direct presidential election.<\/p>\n
They also asserted that the referendum would also question the
\npublic's support of the Assembly's decision to allocate seats in
\nthe Assembly to the Indonesian Military (TNI)\/National Police
\nuntil 2009.<\/p>\n
\"People have the right to have a final say in deciding on
\nsubstantial issues that will determine their future,\" said Smita
\nNotosusanto, coordinator of the Center for Electoral Reform
\n(Cetro).<\/p>\n
The coalition leaders, including prominent lawyer Todung Mulya
\nLubis and Smita, were speaking at a media briefing on Tuesday to
\nmake public their demands.<\/p>\n
The coalition also includes the Foundation of the Indonesian
\nLegal Aid Institute (YLBHI), the Legal Aid and Human Rights
\nAssociation and Indonesia's World Wildlife Fund Foundation.<\/p>\n
\"We call on people to work together with us to achieve our
\ngoal for a direct presidential election,\" Todung said.<\/p>\n
An Assembly ad hoc committee in its deliberations did
\ncontemplate the possibility of adopting a direct presidential
\nelection, however, Assembly members ended up postponing a
\ndiscussion on the sensitive subject.<\/p>\n
\"The MPR members will never allow a direct presidential
\nelection because the practice will severely erode their power,\"
\nsaid Smita.<\/p>\n
Smita said only the National Awakening Party, which was co-
\nfounded by President Abdurrahman Wahid, has openly supported the
\ndirect presidential election.<\/p>\n
Smita also criticized the legislators because they were only
\nconcentrating on strengthening their own positions while ignoring
\nthe fate of the whole nation.<\/p>\n
\"Like the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
\nPerjuangan), which totally rejects our proposal without any
\nproper reason,\" Smita complained.<\/p>\n
Separately, YLBHI also slammed the Assembly members for their
\nfailure to put the better interests of the nation ahead of their
\nown political gain.<\/p>\n
\"Instead of overseeing and evaluating the ruling of power by
\nthe government, MPR members are focusing their attention only on
\nincreasing their power,\" said Munir, the foundation deputy
\nchairman.<\/p>\n
Under the current system, voters elect members of the Assembly
\nwho in turn elect a president and vice president.<\/p>\n
Some factions have maintained that the country is not ready to
\nexecute a direct presidential system.<\/p>\n
TNI<\/p>\n
All of the 11 factions in the Assembly commission meetings
\nhave also endorsed the presence of the military\/police presence
\nin the Assembly. The proposal now only needs the formal support
\nof the plenary session, which is expected on Friday.<\/p>\n
\"We deplore the trepidation of the Assembly members to reject
\nthe presence of the TNI\/Police faction in the Assembly,\" Smita
\nnoted.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Munir charged that the decision of Assembly
\nfactions to support the continued presence of a TNI\/Police
\nfaction was in fact jeopardizing the reform movement.<\/p>\n
He said the 700-member Assembly were carelessly mixing their
\nfactions or personal interests to gain both political and
\neconomic interest, ignoring the most strategic need to
\nconceptualize the fundamental aspects of people's state life.<\/p>\n
\"Obviously, the Assembly has been practicing opportunistic
\npolitics while ignoring political ethics. The Assembly has pushed
\nthe democracy movement several steps backwards,\" he added.
\n(bby\/prb)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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