PDI questions extra presidential power<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) faction
\ndelayed its stance yesterday over dominant Golkar's motion to
\ngrant extra power to the next president, saying that the proposal
\nneeded further explanation.<\/p>\n
Spokesmen for the minority faction Ismunandar and Yahya Theo
\ntold an ad hoc committee session of the People's Consultative
\nAssembly (MPR) yesterday that Golkar failed to cite security and
\nlong-term reasons behind its campaign to give excessive power to
\nthe next president.<\/p>\n
\"We need very strong arguments on why we have come to this
\nconclusion (to have a more powerful president) ... (in order) to
\nprevent public speculation that the country is endangered,\"
\nIsmunandar said.<\/p>\n
\"Never assume that the public will (automatically) share our
\nperception,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Golkar and the regional representatives faction told the
\nsession presided over by Wiranto of the Armed Forces that the
\nnext president would need \"constitutional power that allows him
\nor her to take preemptive measures against any activities which
\nendanger national unity, the development program, Pancasila
\ndemocracy, the state ideology Pancasila and the 1945
\nConstitution\".<\/p>\n
The two factions put forward their proposal in response to
\nPresident Soeharto's advice during a crash course for new
\nlegislators in August that the Assembly should consider granting
\nextra power, given the country's greater challenges in the
\nfuture.<\/p>\n
Golkar spokesman Toni Hartono said monetary turmoil, accidents
\nat sea, in the air and on land, widespread forest fires and a
\nsevere drought had confirmed the need for the faction's bid.<\/p>\n
\"We don't want certain groups to take advantage of the
\ndisasters. If those calamities occur in the future ... we must
\nthink about and prepare constitutional instruments to prevent the
\nworst from happening,\" Toni said.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the Golkar faction in the Assembly, Ginandjar
\nKartasasmita, and his Armed Forces counterpart Lt. Gen. Yunus
\nYosfiah, attended the session. It was their first appearance in
\nan ad hoc committee meeting since the Assembly's general session
\nkicked off on Oct. 27.<\/p>\n
Spokesman of the Armed Forces faction Achmad Roestandi said
\nnational stability remained under control, but it was logical to
\ngive the next president extra power to save development programs
\nand national unity. He cited pluralism and globalization which
\nleft the country vulnerable to infiltration, subversion and the
\nuse of arms by other countries.<\/p>\n
\"(With the extra presidential power) those who will try to
\nsubvert this country will think twice or three times or will even
\nabandon their attempts,\" Roestandi said.<\/p>\n
He said the President should, however, exercise the power as
\nthe last resort and only after consulting the House of
\nRepresentatives.<\/p>\n
Yahya of PDI said the faction would like the Armed Forces
\nfaction to describe national and international politics before
\nunveiling its stance on Golkar's proposal.<\/p>\n
The United Development Party (PPP) faction agreed to the plan
\nonly if it was incorporated in the State Policy Guidelines.<\/p>\n
Its spokesman, Zain Badjeber, said the extra power -- or
\n\"special duties\" as the Moslem-based faction calls it, was
\nrelevant to the president as he or she is the person who executes
\nthe Assembly's mandate in the form of the State Policy
\nGuidelines.<\/p>\n
The deliberation will resume today to hear PDI's stance on the
\nissue.<\/p>\n
In the other ad hoc committee session deliberating the State
\nPolicy Guidelines, all the five factions discussed a new stance
\non social and mass organizations.<\/p>\n
PPP spokesman Muhammad Buang hinted that the Assembly was
\nconsidering having the 1985 Law on Mass Organizations reviewed.
\n(amd)<\/p>",
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