New parliament, old attitude?<\/p>\n
Leaders of the House of Representatives have asked the
\nPresident to ratify a draft law stipulating the conditions for
\ndeclaring a state of emergency. The draft was passed in September
\n1999 by the legislature during the tenure of the Development
\nReform Cabinet. At that time though, it met with fierce
\nopposition from demonstrators who proclaimed they represented
\nstudents and the community.<\/p>\n
We were naturally surprised to learn that a legitimate House
\nof Representatives is now asking that the same draft be ratified.
\nThe consideration for doing so, too, is the same: to provide a
\nlegal basis for anticipating emergencies. Legislators also
\nconsider this draft to be more progressive than the old
\nantisubversion law.<\/p>\n
Should the law be ratified, we have reason to ask whether all
\ngovernments are actually the same in their inclination to try to
\nstay in power. This is not a mere question of consistency, but of
\nmorality.<\/p>\n
-- Republika, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/new-parliament-old-attitude-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }