Scholars criticize MPR members' list<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A political scientist expressed his regret
\nyesterday that the government singled critics out from the
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly (MPR) lineup representing various
\nsocietal groups.<\/p>\n
Muhammad A.S. Hikam said that although various figures hailing
\nfrom different groups filled the 100 seats provided for the MPR,
\nthey would likely play a rubber stamp role.<\/p>\n
\"The government has intervened in the recruitment process by
\ngiving approval only to those who are favorable to government
\npolicies,\" the researcher at the National Institute of Science,
\ntold The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
The head of state has the prerogative to select the 100 MPR
\ncandidates.<\/p>\n
Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M., Minister of
\nInformation R. Hartono, timber tycoon Mohammad (Bob) Hasan and
\nsinger Rinto Harahap are included in the list of 100 MPR members
\nendorsed by President Soeharto last week.<\/p>\n
But Abdurrahman Wahid and Amien Rais, the heads of two of the
\ncountries biggest Moslem organizations, have been excluded.<\/p>\n
MPR will convene in a March general session to decide the
\nState Policy Guidelines and elect a president and a vice
\npresident for the 1998\/2003 period.<\/p>\n
Hikam said the each group should be allowed to name its own
\nrepresentatives and submit them to the president for approval.<\/p>\n
\"There will be no substantial political changes occurring
\nunder the present mechanism.<\/p>\n
\"Unfortunately it's almost impossible to rely on institutional
\nmeasures to encourage such changes but it looks like it will come
\nfrom public pressures which now looms larger,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Separately, Mohamad Budyatna of Indonesia University's School
\nof Social and Political Sciences said the 100 MPR members --
\nelected from societal groups -- would not really have a say in
\nthe upcoming general session because it would serve only as a
\nceremony to endorse the State Policy Guidelines draft.<\/p>\n
\"The lineup doesn't matter to me as long as it adequately
\nrepresents various groups,\" he said. \"The problem is they, as
\nwell as representatives of minority parties, will play second
\nfiddle due to the presence of a dominant political organization.\"<\/p>\n
Budyatna's comments refer to the 488-strong functional group,
\nGolkar, which will dominate the session. (amd)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/scholars-criticize-mpr-members-list-1447893297",
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