Referendum urged to break impasse on commision<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Legislators, experts and activists from non-
\ngovernmental organizations (NGOs) call for a national referendum
\nto break the impasse in a tug-of-war between the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR) and NGOs on the constitutional
\ncommission.<\/p>\n
They said on Friday the referendum was needed to hear the
\npeople's voice on the proposed establishment of an independent
\ncommission to conduct a comprehensive amendment to the 1945
\nConstitution.<\/p>\n
Aberson Marle Sihaloho, a legislator from the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), said a national
\nreferendum was the best alternative to determine whether the
\npublic supported the proposed constitutional commission or not.<\/p>\n
\"In facing the division between the Assembly and the NGOs over
\nthis proposal, it would be better for the nation to hold a
\nnational referendum to learn whether the public supports the
\nestablishment of an independent constitutional commission or
\nnot,\" he told The Jakarta Post on Friday.<\/p>\n
He said, however, that the fundamental elements to be
\nquestioned at the referendum should not only be the
\nconstitutional commission but also public opinion on the proposed
\ndirect presidential vote and implementation of a district system
\nin the next general election.<\/p>\n
\"From the referendum, we will be able to know what the
\nmajority of people want to do with the constitutional amendment,
\nthe next presidential election and the general election and
\nwhether the present Assembly really represents the people or
\nnot,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Yusuf Muhammad, the chairman of the National Awakening Party
\n(PKB) faction at the Assembly, concurred, saying that the
\nreferendum was needed to force the Assembly and political parties
\nto change their political paradigm in the reform era.<\/p>\n
\"The national referendum is urgently needed as the Assembly
\nhas defended its full authority in amending the Constitution
\nwhile its factions or political parties cannot put aside their
\npolitical interests in conducting the amendment. The Assembly
\nshould be more open to better ideas or input from NGOs to foster
\ndemocracy,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Ali Masjkur Musa, the secretary of the Assembly's ad hoc
\nsubcommittee, said the referendum should be the last alternative
\nif the Assembly declined to cooperate with the NGOs in setting up
\nan independent commission to amend the Constitution
\ncomprehensively.<\/p>\n
\"Before organizing a national referendum, the Assembly should
\ntake the initiative to set up an independent commission
\ncomprising Assembly members, experts, religious figures and NGOs.
\nThe Assembly would delegate its authority to the commission to
\nconduct the amendment and approve the amended Constitution,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Binny Buchori, the coordinator of the International NGO Forum
\non Indonesian Development (Infid), appreciated the proposed
\nreferendum but said it should not overburden the people.<\/p>\n
\"Such a referendum is very urgent before the MPR could take
\nthe reform movement in the wrong direction,\" she said.<\/p>\n
She said NGOs had their own draft amendment of the
\nConstitution and they would explain it to the public so that they
\nwere aware of the alternatives to how the Constitution could be
\namended.<\/p>\n
Mochtar Pabottingi, a political expert from the National
\nInstitute of Sciences, supported the idea of a referendum, but
\nsaid that it should be the last resort if the Assembly had no
\nother alternative to amend the Constitution.<\/p>\n
He said that before making a decision on the proposed
\nreferendum, which would be very costly, political parties should
\nmeet to follow up on the President's proposal.<\/p>\n
\"It's impossible now for the nation to hold the referendum
\nbecause of the prolonged economic crisis. The referendum would
\ncertainly put a strain on the people if it was held now,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Sri Sumantri, a professor of constitutional law at Padjadjaran
\nUniversity in Bandung, West Java, called on the Assembly to take
\nnote of the matter of a referendum in the Constitution so as to
\nprovide a legal base for a decision-making process.<\/p>\n
\"The proposed referendum is needed to conduct a comprehensive
\namendment or to make a new Constitution so that the Assembly will
\nnot waste its time and energy on the amendment agenda, which will
\nnever be completed,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Sri hailed the NGOs' proposal as feasible and plausible,
\nadding that a comprehensive amendment to the Constitution could
\nbe made only if it was conducted by a commission comprising
\nindependent experts, religious figures and professionals who have
\nno short-term political interests. (rms)<\/p>",
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