MPR unlikely to set up constitutional commission<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari and Abu Hanifah, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The debate on the creation of a constitutional commission
\nsuffered a setback on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) insisted on
\nstrengthening its team of experts in charge of amending the
\nConstitution rather than setting up a new commission.<\/p>\n
However, the MPR will still be open to input from the public,
\nwhich will be discussed at next month's Annual Session.<\/p>\n
\"It would be more practical to boost the performance of the
\nAssembly's Working Committee,\" said Rambe Kamarulzaman, chairman
\nof the MPR Ad Hoc committee in charge of the constitutional
\namendment.<\/p>\n
The constitutional commission was proposed by President
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri in her maiden state-of-the-nation address
\nin August. The idea received a warm response, especially from
\ndemocracy activists.<\/p>\n
But to many people's disappointment, the MPR has been working
\njust on the amendment instead of overhauling the 1945
\nConstitution, which critics say is outdated.<\/p>\n
Another disappointment came on Monday when the constitutional
\ncommission was not included on the agenda of the MPR's Annual
\nSession next month.<\/p>\n
It was regarded as a surprising announcement because at least
\nthree factions in the MPR had previously backed the establishment
\nof a constitutional commission.<\/p>\n
Hadar N. Gumay from the Center for Electoral Reform (Cetro)
\nsaid that the Assembly's reluctance to raise the constitutional
\nreforms at next month's session was a big disappointment.<\/p>\n
\"It's strange. These factions had proposed the establishment
\nof the constitutional commission, but they did not fight for
\nthat,\" he told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
The MPR working committee has finished deliberating on the
\ndraft amendment of 12 chapters of the 1945 Constitution,
\nincluding those on the regional legislative council, general
\nelection and the state audit body.<\/p>\n
The exclusion of the constitutional commission on next month's
\nagenda also dismayed Mahfud M.D., a legal observer and former
\njustice minister.<\/p>\n
He said that the Assembly's refusal to put it on the upcoming
\nsession's agenda showed that political factions put their short-
\nterm interests before those of the nation.<\/p>\n
Non-governmental organization activists have demanded an
\nindependent commission to draft a new Constitution without
\ninvolving the Assembly or political parties.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mpr-unlikely-to-set-up-constitutional-commission-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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