{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1067761,
        "msgid": "ngos-reject-third-amendment-to-1945-constitution-1447893297",
        "date": "2001-11-09 00:00:00",
        "title": "NGOs reject third amendment to 1945 Constitution",
        "author": null,
        "source": "JP",
        "tags": null,
        "topic": null,
        "summary": "NGOs reject third amendment to 1945 Constitution Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta A coalition of non-governmental organizations yesterday rejected the third amendment to the 1945 Constitution and urged the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) to set up an independent commission to facilitate public participation in determining the country's Constitution.",
        "content": "<p>NGOs reject third amendment to 1945 Constitution<\/p>\n<p>Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n<p>A coalition of non-governmental organizations yesterday rejected<br>\nthe third amendment to the 1945 Constitution and urged the<br>\nPeople's Consultative Assembly (MPR) to set up an independent<br>\ncommission to facilitate public participation in determining the<br>\ncountry's Constitution.<\/p>\n<p>\"We strongly reject the third amendment of 1945 Constitution<br>\nbeing deliberated on in the on-going Annual Session of the<br>\nPeople's Consultative Assembly,\" said Smita Notosusanto,<br>\nexecutive director of the Centre for Electoral Reform (Cetro),<br>\nThursday night.<\/p>\n<p>\"We demand the MPR to form an independent constitutional<br>\ncommission which will empower the people in suggesting and<br>\ndetermining their own Constitution,\" said Smita, adding that<br>\namendments made by MPR members cannot be relied upon with any<br>\ncertainty for future democracy.<\/p>\n<p>She also condemned the Assembly's inability to carry out the<br>\nrequired amendments.<\/p>\n<p>\"Up to this point tonight, there is no clear result\" of their<br>\nwork, she continued. Cetro is a member of a coalition consisting<br>\nof dozens of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) of various<br>\nbackgrounds.<\/p>\n<p>Smita said she and other coalition members were disappointed<br>\nwith the amendment process carried out by Assembly members since<br>\nthe Annual Session started on Nov. 1, 2001.<\/p>\n<p>\"The amendment process is being marred by horse-trading. That<br>\nis not a good process,\" she said, referring to the deal between<br>\nGolkar and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI<br>\nPerjuangan).<\/p>\n<p>Cetro claims that the amendment process is not being done in a<br>\nsystematic and comprehensive manner, but solely accommodating the<br>\ninterest of the current political elites.<\/p>\n<p>A fellow activist from the Society for Ecology-based Law<br>\nReform (Huma) Sandra Moniaga meanwhile took a more diplomatic<br>\nstance, saying that there were positive and negative aspects in<br>\nthe Annual Session.<\/p>\n<p>\"For me, the deliberation on Agrarian Reform and Natural<br>\nResource Management is sufficient enough, but it needs a strong<br>\ncommitment from the government for its implementation,\" she told<br>\nThe Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n<p>Concerning the constitutional amendment, Sandra said that<br>\nthere was only a little awareness from the legislators on the<br>\nissue.<\/p>\n<p>\"On this fundamental subject, the legislators are backward,\"<br>\nshe added.<\/p>\n<p>Witnessing all the scenes in the Assembly, Smita said that her<br>\ngroup's demand for a constitutional commission should be<br>\njustified.<\/p>\n<p>\"We will continue demands for the creation of an independent<br>\ncommission,\" she said.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ngos-reject-third-amendment-to-1945-constitution-1447893297",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}