PPP takes tough stance at the session<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The United Development Party (PPP) left on
\nWednesday a strong mark during the plenary session by presenting
\na tough stance on controversial issues such as the probe into
\nSoeharto's wealth, and apologizing to the nation for failure to
\nfight despotism in the past.<\/p>\n
The Moslem-based faction's spokesman, Fahri Hamzah, said the
\nspecial session was a good opportunity for the faction to perform
\n\"total correction.\"<\/p>\n
\"This is a good opportunity for the faction, in all humility,
\nto offer an apology to the entire nation for its lack of struggle
\nagainst the very strong despotism of the past,\" Fahri said during
\nthe session where factions aired their general views on the 12
\ndraft decrees.<\/p>\n
\"We offer this apology, God willing, based on the strong
\nresoluteness of the components of the nation who love the truth
\nand justice, to leave the gloomy past and move toward a bright
\nfuture,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"I hope this apology may also serve as our repentance to
\nAllah,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He described how the New Order government as the successor of
\nthe Old Order government under first president Sukarno, came up
\nwith a \"Development -- Yes! Politics -- No!\" slogan.<\/p>\n
Exploiting this stance, the New Order regime had imposed
\nrestrictions on various public activities, he said. Consequently,
\nhe said, development appeared to become the activity of a handful
\nof the elite and people close to those in power.<\/p>\n
The New Order's development strategy eventually gave rise to
\nthe creation of a hegemonic government, he added.<\/p>\n
The New Order, which originally pledged to implement the state
\nideology Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution in its pure form,
\nwent on to repeat the Old Order's mistakes, exploiting all means
\nto defend its power, he said.<\/p>\n
He said the faction was now committed to helping bring about a
\nnew era in Indonesia, whose characteristics included the presence
\nof decentralization and wide ranging autonomy, a pious civil
\nsociety, and the people's sovereignty.<\/p>\n
The new Indonesia would see the Armed Forces play an important
\npart in protecting and giving people a sense of security, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The faction reiterated its intention to have a draft decree on
\nthe protection of human rights endorsed so that it gives
\nfoundation to future laws on human rights.<\/p>\n
Fahri also called on the government to continue probing and
\nfinding solutions to cases of human rights violations and
\nviolence, including those linked to military atrocities in Aceh,
\nand other places.<\/p>\n
The other faction spokesman, Ali Taher Parasong, said his
\nfaction has proposed the discussion of two more draft decrees
\nduring the ongoing special session.<\/p>\n
One is concerned with the probe into the alleged hidden wealth
\nof former president Soeharto, his family and cronies and the
\nother is on the freedom of communication and information through
\nthe mass media, Parasong said.<\/p>\n
He said the faction believes that to provide constitutional,
\npolitical and moral support to President B.J. Habibie, the
\nspecial session needs to produce a decree assigning the incumbent
\npresident to conduct an investigation of the wealth allegedly
\namassed by Soeharto and his cronies during his 32 years in power.<\/p>\n
\"The proposed draft decree is based on the presumption of
\ninnocence,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said if the probe indicates that former and present
\ngovernment officials have enriched themselves through corrupt,
\ncollusive and nepotistic practices, they must be brought to
\ncourt.<\/p>\n
\"The faction believes that if such a draft decree is passed,
\nacts of defaming one another in society would stop,\" he said.
\nParasong further said that Soeharto's New Order government had
\nfrequently made use of his office to issue \"emergency\"
\nregulations that ran counter to the Constitution.<\/p>\n
Such \"emergency\" regulations are beyond the control of the
\nHouse of Representatives, he noted. (team)<\/p>",
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