Nine draft decrees set for next govt<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The working committee of the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR) has prepared nine draft decrees,
\nincluding the State Policy Guidelines for the 1999-2004 period
\nand the amendment of the 1945 Constitution, for the next
\ngovernment to implement.<\/p>\n
The nine decrees plus a draft decision on the MPR General
\nSession's agenda, designed by the Assembly's Ad Hoc Committees
\nfrom Oct. 4 through Oct. 14, were handed over to the working
\ncommittee in the latter's plenary session on Thursday. All the
\ndraft decrees will be further deliberated by MPR commissions
\nbefore being endorsed in the General Session.<\/p>\n
Theo Sambuaga, who chaired Ad Hoc Subcommittee I for drafting
\nthe State Policy Guidelines (GBHN), said the GBHN draft contains
\nfeasible economic, monetary and political programs that should be
\ncarried out by the next government.<\/p>\n
"In the economic and monetary fields, my subcommittee should
\nbe able to complete the ongoing bank restructuring program, to
\nencourage the growth of real sectors, decrease the inflation
\nrate, repair the state balance sheet and improve the country's
\nexport market. In short, economic development should not be
\noriented toward economic growth as it was in the past, but to the
\nempowerment of small and middle-scale business to improve the
\nentire welfare of the people," Theo said.<\/p>\n
Noting that the next development program should also pay
\nattention to reforming the judiciary system and law enforcement
\ninstitution in order to ensure the supremacy of law, he said
\ndevelopment in the country's social, political, education,
\nreligion and human rights fields should be directed to help
\nminimize social conflicts and improve people's political
\nawareness.<\/p>\n
I Dewa Gde Palguna, the secretary of the Ad Hoc Subcommittee
\nII, said his subcommittee drafted seven decrees on the presidency
\nand vice presidency and the agenda of the second part of the MPR
\nGeneral Session.<\/p>\n
The seven decrees were, among other things, the ruling on the
\npresidential election, the swearing-in of the president and vice
\npresident, the president's accountability and the planned
\nrevocation of the 1988 MPR decree on the limitation of
\npresidential power.<\/p>\n
Palguna also reported to the plenary session that his
\ncommittee failed to reach an agreement on a number of issues on
\nthe presidential election and the planned revocation of the 1978
\nMPR decree on the East Timor integration to Indonesia.<\/p>\n
"Regarding the draft on the ruling on the presidential
\nelection, the subcommittee was split over the necessity for
\npresidential candidates to present their own vision in a dialog
\nwith the Assembly, for the selection of presidential candidates
\nin two or three phases and for the nomination of alternative
\npresidential candidates if the presidential election is
\ndeadlocked," he said.<\/p>\n
He said the subcommittee was also divided over the necessity
\nof setting conditions for the revocation of the MPR decree on
\nEast Timor, which is still claimed by Portugal as part of its
\nterritory, as well as the United Nations had yet to investigate
\nviolations by UNAMET staff in the Aug. 30 ballot on East Timor.<\/p>\n
Harun Kamil, the chairman of the Ad Hoc Subcommittee III,
\nsaid that his committee made significant changes to numerous
\nchapters in the Constitution to limit presidential power and
\nprivileges while empowering other state institutions like the
\nMPR, the House of Representatives and the Audit Agency.<\/p>\n
"We have amended ten chapters in total. With the amendment,
\nthe next president will stay in office for two five-year terms at
\nthe most and he\/she will have no power to make laws. The
\nlegislative power is returned to the House," Harun said.<\/p>\n
The next president will also be obliged to have consultation
\nwith the House before appointing his\/her ministers and new
\nambassadors. And the next chiefs of the Supreme Court, Audit
\nAgency and Supreme Advisory Council will be appointed by the MPR,
\nhe added.<\/p>\n
MPR Chairman Amien Rais, who presided over the plenary
\nsession, said that all the draft decrees would be brought to MPR
\ncommissions for further deliberation before they are endorsed by
\nthe MPR General Session, scheduled to convene until Oct. 21.<\/p>\n
"We hope all the draft decrees will get serious attention from
\nthe MPR commissions, which are scheduled to start deliberating
\nthem on Saturday," he said, adding the agenda of the MPR General
\nSession was endorsed on Thursday night.<\/p>\n
When asked on whether the MPR General Session, including the
\npresidential election, would run in accordance with the schedule,
\nAmien said he would work hard to stick to the planned agenda so
\nthat it would end on time.<\/p>\n
"If we look at the planned agenda, there is a possibility that
\nthe General Session will be prolonged. But we will work hard to
\nstick to the schedule," he said. (rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/nine-draft-decrees-set-for-next-govt-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}