PDI-P under fire for 'illogical' protest<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Government and parliamentary watchdogs slammed
\nthe Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan)
\nfaction at the City Council on Friday, for its walkout during a
\nplenary session which endorsed the city's draft budget last week.<\/p>\n
Speaking at a joint press conference, coordinators of the
\nJakarta Parliament Watch (Japwa), Parliament Watch Indonesia and
\nthe Jakarta Governance Watch said the move was \"illogical\".<\/p>\n
Japwa's coordinator, Ivan Parapat, said the walkout reflected
\nthe faction's inability to complete its review of the city draft
\nbudget on time.<\/p>\n
\"Such political behavior reveals no sense of virtue, which may
\nhamper democracy in the City Council,\" Ivan said.<\/p>\n
He said the largest faction in the council, which holds 30 out
\nof 88 seats, should convey its disagreement without causing any
\nconflicts of interest.<\/p>\n
\"PDI Perjuangan should not place their political priorities
\nabove those of the people. They can have a different opinion, but
\nthey must express it in a logical manner\" he said.<\/p>\n
The joint statement came in the wake of repeated accusations
\nfrom the PDI Perjuangan faction over what it termed an
\nillegitimate plenary session, held to approve the Rp 7.49
\ntrillion (about US$788.42 million) 2001 budget proposal.<\/p>\n
The faction also demanded the resignation of City Council
\nSpeaker Edy Waluyo over alleged rule violations.<\/p>\n
Tom Pasaribu of Parliament Watch Indonesia hinted that the 19
\ncouncilors attending the session did not register their
\nattendance at the session, giving them no rights to speak during
\nthe meeting.<\/p>\n
\"The walkout indicated a hidden motive from PDI Perjuangan to
\nslow down the approval of the draft city budget,\" Tom said.<\/p>\n
Tom said PDI Perjuangan should have learned from other
\nfactions -- the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the Justice
\nParty (PK) -- which asked for a delay of the meeting through a
\nwritten notice.<\/p>\n
\"PDI Perjuangan should have followed the rule to demonstrate a
\ngood example to the public,\" Tom added.<\/p>\n
PDI Perjuangan has planned to present its response to the
\ndraft budget on Jan. 8, but Amir Hamzah of Jakarta Governance
\nWatch said the move lacked legal basis now that the budget had
\nalready been endorsed by the Council.<\/p>\n
\"The decision was an expression of selfishness, but with low
\nbargaining power, in an attempt to make the city administration
\nheed their demands for change,\" said Amir.<\/p>\n
The faction had questioned the draft budget for allocating
\nmore funds to routine expenses than development expenditure.<\/p>\n
Amir said PDI Perjuangan's reply to the draft budget would
\nonly be accepted as a note.<\/p>\n
He added that he could accept the city budget, adding that
\nseveral items within routine expenditure could perhaps be used to
\nimprove public services. (07)<\/p>",
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