MPR likely to endorse amendments<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) was expected to endorse
\nthe last package of amendments to the 1945 Constitution on Saturday
\ndespite protests from dozens of legislators over decisions on several
\ncritical issues, including sharia, the composition of the MPR and
\nthe establishment of a constitutional commission.<\/p>\n
The endorsement of the amendments, the fourth since 1999, is
\nmeant to pave the way for a more democratic Indonesia. It allows,
\namong other things, direct presidential elections and makes the
\nassembly a fully elected body.<\/p>\n
The plenary was adjourned twice to allow factions to negotiate
\nand reach a consensus on the contentious issues. The last debate
\ncentered on the establishment of a constitutional commission and
\nthe meeting was adjourned at 10:30 p.m. to allow factions another
\nhalf hour to negotiate. However, until 23:15 the plenary had not
\nyet reopened.<\/p>\n
The plenary was scheduled to end at midnight.<\/p>\n
Debates on sharia, or strict Islamic law, which was feared
\ncould obstruct the endorsement, did not develop into prolonged
\nbickering after proponents for the adoption of sharia into
\nArticle 29(1) on religion in the 1945 Constitution agreed to back
\ndown from their demands. The plenary rejected a proposal to
\ninsert seven words from the Jakarta Charter on sharia in Article
\n29(1), meaning the return to the original text.<\/p>\n
At least 80 percent, or 172 million, of Indonesia's 215
\nmillion people are Muslims. But Islam is not the state religion
\nand a limited number of other faiths are accepted.<\/p>\n
The debate on the establishment of a constitutional commission
\nrevolved around its timeframe and legal basis. The Indonesian
\nMilitary\/National Police faction proposed that the commission be
\nincluded in an auxiliary statute in the amended Constitution. In
\nother words, the military and police faction wanted the
\ncommission be established now, instead of later in 2003 as
\nproposed by Commission A on amendments.<\/p>\n
Other factions, meanwhile, insisted on sticking to Commission
\nA's decision to issue an MPR decree as a legal basis for the its
\nestablishment.<\/p>\n
An auxiliary statute has a stronger legal basis than an MPR
\ndecree, which can be revoked at any given time by the MPR.<\/p>\n
Amien Rais said the TNI\/Police faction's proposal as a
\nbacktrack on an earlier stance. On morning morning all factions
\nagreed to establish the constitutional commission based an MPR
\ndecree.<\/p>\n
Legislators also failed to reach a consensus on the removal of
\nthe Interest Groups faction (FUG). Based on the third amendment
\nof last year which adopts a bicameral system, the faction, whose
\nmembers were all appointed, must be scrapped from the Assembly.<\/p>\n
The ensuing vote marked the end of the history of the faction
\nin the Assembly. A total of 475 legislators voted for the removal
\nof the Interests Group faction, 122 legislators against it, and
\nthree others abstained.<\/p>\n
It was the only decision made by a vote in this Annual
\nSession.<\/p>\n
"We accept this decision graciously. We have no intention to
\nbring this session to a deadlock," FUG leader Harun Kamil said,
\nto a noisy applause from the floor.<\/p>\n
Another tough issue was Article 31(4) on the national
\neducation budget.<\/p>\n
The plenary meeting to decide on the amendments began at 2:57
\np.m. but the vote for the FUG did not take place until at 9:30
\np.m. due to several interruptions.<\/p>\n
Several dissatisfied legislators with the decision on sharia
\nsaid they did not join in the decision-making process and were
\ntherefore not responsible for the outcome of the amendment
\nprocess.<\/p>\n
Objections to this decision were expressed by four factions:
\nthe United Development Party (PPP), the Crescent Star Party
\n(PBB), the Daulatul Ummah Unity (PDU), and the Reform faction.
\nThe latter comprises the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the
\nJustice Party (PK).<\/p>\n
The PPP, PBB, and PDU withdrew their demand after a meeting
\nprior to the decision-making session.<\/p>\n
The PBB faction said the rejection of the sharia would not
\nstop them from continuing the fight for the adoption of the
\nIslamic law into the Constitution.<\/p>\n
"We won't give up. We will wait for a more appropriate time
\n(to fight for the inclusion of sharia)," PBB legislator Ahjad
\ntold the plenary.<\/p>\n
Meantime, legislators from the Indonesian Democratic Party of
\nStruggle (PDI Perjuangan) Benny Pasaribu and Angelina Andaris
\nPattiasina expressed disagreement with an allocation of 20
\npercent of the state budget for education.<\/p>\n
"It is not realistic. What will be the consequence if it can't
\nbe fulfilled? It's hard for me to accept it," Benny said.<\/p>\n
Taking another tack, PDI Perjuangan legislator Sabam Sirait
\nsaid that 20 percent was still too small to enable the country to
\nmove forward.<\/p>\n
Despite the objections, the majority of legislators agreed
\nwith the fourth amendments.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of protesters meanwhile staged a demonstration
\noutside the MPR building on Saturday to reject the constitutional
\namendments.<\/p>\n
Protesters from the Indonesian National Students Movement
\n(GMNI) and Antiamendment People Movement (Geram) unfurled banners
\nand disseminated pamphlets.<\/p>\n
"Accepting the amendments means accepting a new constitution
\nand is against Pancasila (the state ideology)," it said on the
\npamphlets.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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