Much-ado about might<\/p>\n
There is much fuss about power in Indonesia today.<\/p>\n
A debate has raged since President Soeharto spoke about the
\npossibility of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), which
\nwill convene in March, reviving an old ruling which bestows a
\nspecial power on the president.<\/p>\n
The idea, which for many people still needs clarification, was
\nspontaneously supported by the government-backed Golkar. This
\nkind of reaction has long been a part of our political culture
\nbut, this time, the President's suggestion will undoubtedly have
\nfar-reaching consequences for the country's constitutional
\nsystem.<\/p>\n
The special power in question was first passed by the
\nProvisional People's Consultative Assembly in 1966. It confirmed
\npresident Sukarno's special mandate to the then Army Chief Lt.
\nGen. Soeharto (now President) to restore order in the wake of the
\n1965 abortive coup attempt, blamed on the now outlawed Indonesian
\nCommunist Party.<\/p>\n
Gen. Soeharto used the special power, among other things, to
\nban the communist party, a step which was warmly supported by the
\nmajority of Indonesians. The four MPR sessions between 1973 and
\n1988 maintained the decree but in 1993 it was not deliberated.<\/p>\n
The question now is why the revival of the long-dormant decree
\nis suddenly needed? The government repeatedly says there is
\npolitical stability, the situation is under control and the
\nnation's economic development is the pride of the New Order.
\nThese statements do not sound like PR gimmicks. Moreover,
\nSoeharto is at the peak of his power and success and his re-
\nelection does not pose any serious challenge.<\/p>\n
There is no reason to make believe that we are now in an
\nemergency situation, such as in 1965 when the communists tried to
\nseize power. So the question of relevancy is logical.<\/p>\n
The wisdom behind the questions becomes more clear amid
\nfamiliar complaints that the President has more power than the
\nlegislative and judicial branches of the government, while the
\nnational constitution calls for them to be of equal strength.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, extra constitutional power given to the
\nPresident unavoidably reduces the people's civic rights. So
\nreviving such a decree would be a blatant setback for this
\ncountry. It will also serve to confuse foreign nations about
\nwhere this nation is heading. After all, there is a swift global
\ntrend to move toward openness and enhanced democratic values.<\/p>\n
The next question, therefore, is for whom the decree is meant.
\nIt is hard to believe that Soeharto himself needs such a decree
\nbecause his power is so solid. This is perhaps the reason that
\nsome have come to believe that the person who fills his shoes
\nwill need the extra power.<\/p>\n
It is seen as an historical fact that whoever becomes the
\nthird president of the republic will not enjoy the same
\nlegitimacy and influence as the other two national leaders.
\nSukarno was a founding father of the republic and Soeharto saved
\nthe nation from a disastrous political crisis in 1965.<\/p>\n
However, any weakness on the part of the new president does
\nnot condone the endowment of an extra constitutional power. The
\nconstitution, as the authorities have always claimed, is the
\nnation's guiding star and the reference point in the event of a
\ncrisis.<\/p>\n
This discussion, strangely, has been provoked by a lack of
\ndeliberation. It is the duty of political groupings, who have
\nvoiced support for the idea, to help shed some light on it or
\nseek clarification from the President. Otherwise they will leave
\nthe average person in the dark about this important matter.<\/p>\n
If the political organizations, that will play such
\nsignificant roles in the March's MPR session, fail to do so it
\nwill be to the detriment of the people who voted for them at the
\ngeneral election.<\/p>\n
This is to say, if the President himself is not planning to
\ngauge the capabilities of the newly elected legislators based on
\nthe way they handle the idea of resurrecting the special power.
\nAnything is possible.<\/p>",
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