MPR fails to agree on constitutional reforms<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) wrapped up their annual
\nsession on Friday evening, but failed to reach an agreement on
\nconstitutional reforms to allow voters to elect the president by
\ndirect ballot.<\/p>\n
The MPR, the country's highest legislative body, agreed in
\nprinciple to hold direct presidential elections, but differed on
\nwhat to do if the presidential and vice presidential candidates
\ncould not win by a simple majority, prompting the body to
\npostpone the decision until next year.<\/p>\n
\"It is clear that all factions want the unresolved issues to
\nbe taken up for further deliberation in the 2002 Annual Session,\"
\nAssembly Speaker Amien Rais said during a plenary meeting on
\nFriday night.<\/p>\n
Amien said the agreement was reached after intensive lobbying
\nbetween the eleven factions last night.<\/p>\n
The Assembly also rejected demands of non-governmental
\norganizations for the setting up of an independent constitutional
\ncommission, arguing that only the MPR had the authority to amend
\nthe country's Constitution.<\/p>\n
The articles to be deliberated in next year's Annual Session
\ninclude the composition of the Assembly, presidential elections,
\nprovisions for what should be done if the president and the vice
\npresident are unable to carry out state duties and the state
\nbudget.<\/p>\n
Amid broad criticism, the Assembly passed seven decrees
\nincluding the those on ethics; Indonesian vision, curbing the
\npractices of corruption, collusion and nepotism; agrarian and
\nnatural resources; decree on economic recovery; accountability of
\nstate agencies and Assembly internal regulations.<\/p>\n
The enactment of the revised internal regulations of the
\nAssembly lead to the reestablishment of the Regional
\nRepresentatives faction (FUD) that was disbanded in 1999.<\/p>\n
As expected, fierce debate over constitutional amendment
\nbecame the main issue, and the legislators decided to take a
\nfour-and-a-half hour break to further intensify lobbying.<\/p>\n
Deputy chairman of Commission A for amendment Slamet Effendy
\nYusuf confirmed after the lobbying that the factions had agreed
\nto postpone the deliberation of two articles until next year.<\/p>\n
The two articles are Article 23B and 23D on state budget and
\nArticle 8 (3) on procedures should either the president or vice-
\npresident be unable to carry out state duties.<\/p>\n
All factions, while agreeing in principle to direct
\npresidential elections, maintained their stance on the procedure.<\/p>\n
Vested political interests of each faction continued to play a
\nprominent role in the process of amendment, which has ignited the
\nprolonged debate on the country's Constitution.<\/p>\n
In a session earlier in the day, Assembly Speaker Amien Rais
\ndecided to pass six decrees and one special decree, besides a
\ndecree on the amendment of the Constitution.<\/p>\n
The session was marked with some interruptions including those
\nfrom prominent political figures such as Siswono Yudohusodo from
\nthe Interest Group faction and Permadi from the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan).<\/p>\n
Ariyadi Achmad of Golkar Party and Jusuf Muhammad from the
\nNational Awakening Party (PKB) also made interruptions.<\/p>\n
Jusuf said his faction endorsed the existence of the Supreme
\nAdvisory Council (DPA). Earlier, the PKB wanted the advisory
\ncouncil to be scrapped.<\/p>\n
Amien, who seemed in the hurry, ignored almost all
\ninterruptions made by legislators. He simply said: \"Thanks for
\nthe suggestion, but I think that everybody here is in agreement
\nto pass these decrees.\"<\/p>\n
He then banged his gavel twice.<\/p>\n
Angry with Amien's response, legislators Djamal Do'a from the
\nUnited Development Party, who protested one of the decrees, left
\nthe plenary session room.<\/p>\n
The Annual Session, which was cut short, managed to fulfill
\nthe targeted number of decrees that had been discussed in the
\nlast six months in the Assembly working committee.<\/p>\n
Debate on several articles relating to the preparation for the
\n2004 elections reached an impasse. These included: Article 2 on
\nthe composition of the Assembly, Article 6A on presidential
\nelections, Article 7B on impeachment, Article 22C on the
\ncomposition of the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) and
\nArticle 22E on general election.<\/p>\n
Some other articles that remain unsolved are Article 15A on
\nthe Supreme Advisory Council (DPA), Article 23 on the State
\nBudget, Article 23E on the State Audit Body and Article 24 on
\nJudicial Power and the composition of the Constitutional Court.<\/p>\n
Decrees of the Assembly<\/p>\n
- Ethics in Nationhood, Statehood, and Social Life
\n - Vision of Indonesia's Future
\n - Clean State Administration, Free From Corruption, Collusion,
\nNepotism
\n - Agrarian Reform and Natural Resource Management
\n - Economic Restructuring and Recovery
\n - Recommendation for State High Institutions
\n - Internal Regulations of the Assembly<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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