Once again, openness<\/p>\n
As we watched some of our fellow developing countries
\nsuccessfully establish sound democratic systems, any signs of
\ngreater political openness at home have been welcomed with open
\narms.<\/p>\n
It is in this receptive spirit that we greet the inaugural
\nspeech to President Soeharto's seventh term in office, delivered
\nin Jakarta on Wednesday. Soeharto said he would welcome the
\nsupport, corrections and supervision of the House of the
\nRepresentatives (DPR), whose members also sit in the more
\npowerful People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).<\/p>\n
The President, absent when his statement of accountability was
\ndebated by the MPR, said that he had listened to all the
\ncriticism, subtle and veiled or strong and blunt, aired during
\nthe MPR General Session with an open mind. This, he said, was
\nbecause criticism is a valuable input which can be used to
\nimprove the government in the next term of office.<\/p>\n
These wise words were followed by a claim that: \"Corrections
\nwill motivate me to review my policies and actions. Supervision
\nwill spare me from mistakes. I regard support, correction and
\nsupervision as elements that will always reinvigorate a
\ndemocratic life.\"<\/p>\n
This statement has been welcomed as an encouraging sign that
\nthe government will become more receptive to popular opinion in a
\nbid to negotiate the pitfalls of the economic crisis which is
\ngripping the country. Unfortunately the Golkar faction in the
\nAssembly have not yet picked up on the prudence of this move.
\nMany members of the ruling faction heckled and jeered the United
\nDevelopment Party (PPP) spokeswoman as she fulfilled her party's
\nconstitutional function by making a speech criticizing some
\naspects of Soeharto's statement of accountability.<\/p>\n
By local standards -- the same standards which the ruling
\nfaction are so keen to defend from IMF reform -- this behavior is
\nhighly impolite. It brings to mind the words of a well-known
\nAmerican statesman, who said \"when political ammunition runs low,
\ninevitably the rusty artillery of abuse is wheeled into action\".
\nFurthermore, we are at a loss as to why Golkar legislators, whose
\nchief patron is Soeharto, did not follow his new political
\nstance.<\/p>\n
To improve input into, and supervision of, the presidential
\nperformance, the Assembly should consider convening more
\nregularly than once every five years. The Constitution stipulates
\nthat the MPR must convene at least once every five years, leaving
\nflexibility to introduce a more regular session better suited to
\nthe turbulent years ahead and an increased supervisory role. At
\nthe very least, an active working body which can handle day-to-
\nday tasks must be set up.<\/p>\n
Supervision of the presidency could be further improved by
\narranging for the accountability address to be delivered to the
\nAssembly which provided the President with a mandate, rather than
\na freshly elected body as is currently the case. This would also
\nbring the process of accountability closer into line with the
\nspirit of the Constitution.<\/p>\n
We welcome the President's new open attitude to criticism and
\nhis willingness to be corrected if in error, but we have a long
\nexperience in this matter which we can draw upon to qualify our
\noptimism. In the past, the government has made numerous
\nstatements professing an open attitude, yet Indonesians still
\nfind that many basic freedoms remain curtailed.<\/p>\n
Newspapers have been banned and a controversial decree, issued
\nby the minister of information, legitimizing press bans remains
\nin place. This decree directly contradicts the Constitution.<\/p>\n
All basic freedoms are interconnected. We hope that the
\nreelected President and his new government will embrace this
\nfundamental notion and use it as the guiding principle of
\ngovernance to strengthen this great nation.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/once-again-openness-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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