Sharia last point of contention in constitutional amendments<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Article 29 on religion remained the only point of contention
\nat a plenary meeting of the Annual Session of the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR) on Friday, forcing legislators to
\nspend the entire day trying to reach a consensus on whether or
\nnot to amend the article.<\/p>\n
Apart from the article on religion, Jakob Tobing said the
\nonly other article that was left for completion was Article 2(1)
\non the composition of the MPR.<\/p>\n
The Interest Groups faction is the only faction that has
\nrejected the amendment of the article, because it would mean the
\nend of its membership in the Assembly.<\/p>\n
Despite the tough deliberations, all 12 factions in the MPR
\nseemed determined to avoid a vote on the sensitive issue, Jakob
\nTobing, chairman of Commission A on constitutional amendments,
\nsaid on the sidelines of the meeting.<\/p>\n
It is crucial that deliberation on the article be completed on
\nFriday night, as the Assembly is set to close the Annual Session
\non Saturday.<\/p>\n
The Assembly has deliberated 13 articles of the 1945
\nConstitution as part of the fourth batch of amendments. Some of
\nthe articles are crucial for the passage of several bills,
\nincluding the bill on general elections. The endorsement of the
\nfourth amendment will guarantee a more democratic general
\nelection.<\/p>\n
The plenary meeting on Friday heard reports from the
\nAssembly's commissions on constitutional amendments (Commission
\nA), on the drafting of MPR decrees (Commission B) and on
\nrecommendations (Commission C).<\/p>\n
The United Development Party (PPP), the Crescent Star Party
\n(PBB) and the Daulatul Ummah Party (PDU) factions remained
\nsteadfast in their demand for the inclusion of sharia in Article
\n29 of the Constitution, said Jakob.<\/p>\n
PPP faction member Barlianta Harahap said that although his
\nfaction was determined to include sharia in the Constitution,
\nthere were indications that PPP would agree to a return to the
\noriginal text.<\/p>\n
\"\"We will not vote on the issue but try to seek a consensus to
\nsolve the problems,\" Barlianta told the press at the Assembly
\nbuilding on Friday. \"A vote will result in a winner and a loser.
\nDeliberations will ensure that everyone is satisfied.\"<\/p>\n
\"I propose that we return to the original text (of the
\narticle) while still allowing factions to fight (for their
\naspirations),\" Barlianta added.<\/p>\n
Article 29(1) of the Constitution reads: \"The state is based
\non one Supreme God.\" PPP, PBB and PDU have insisted that it be
\nchange to read: \"The state is based on one Supreme God, with the
\nobligation for followers of Islam to practice sharia.\"<\/p>\n
A third, compromise article, reads: \"The state is based on one
\nSupreme God, with the obligation for adherents to practice their
\nreligions.\"<\/p>\n
The insistence on the inclusion of sharia in the article is
\nseen by some as nothing more than an effort to use religion to
\ngarner support from the Muslim community, given that the
\ncountry's two largest Muslim organizations, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU)
\nand Muhammadiyah, have agreed not to include sharia in the
\nConstitution.<\/p>\n
Among the crucial recommendations agreed to yesterday was the
\ninclusion of the word pribumi (indigenous) in the draft of the
\neconomic recovery decree.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, legislators defended a decision by Commission A to
\nissue a decree on the establishment of a constitutional
\ncommission, saying the decision was the best compromise they
\ncould arrive at.<\/p>\n
Although disappointing to many, legislators said the decision
\nwas the most acceptable result after days of tough deliberations.<\/p>\n
\"The consensus is aimed at accommodating conflicting ideas
\namong the 12 factions in the Assembly. We have to agree that it
\nis a realistic result,\" Baharuddin Aritonang of the Golkar Party
\nsaid on the sidelines of the plenary session.<\/p>\n
Ida Fauziah of the National Awakening Party (PKB) added that
\nthe decision to establish a constitutional commission through an
\nMPR decree was a compromise among the factions.<\/p>\n
PPP leader Zein Badjeber concurred with Fauziah, saying that
\nthe plan to issue a decree for the establishment of a
\nconstitutional commission was a political compromise.<\/p>\n
\"It was an attempt to accommodate those who were against the
\nestablishment of the commission and those who demanded an
\nindependent constitutional commission,\" Badjeber told The Jakarta
\nPost.<\/p>\n
All three politicians were commenting on suspicions that the
\nMPR's decision to set up a constitutional commission was nothing
\nmore than a political ploy by parties to win the people's
\nsympathy.<\/p>\n
Critics accuse political parties of using the issue of the
\nestablishment of a constitutional commission as a political tool
\nto gain support, proving that the parties are not sincere in
\ngiving the public a larger role in constitutional reform.<\/p>\n
The call for the establishment of a constitutional commission
\nwas officially introduced by President Megawati Soekarnoputri in
\na speech to legislators last year.<\/p>\n
Megawati's party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
\n(PDI Perjuangan), the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the
\nGolkar Party immediately came up with drafts on the establishment
\nof a constitutional commission at last year's Annual Session.
\nTheir proposals, however, were rejected.<\/p>\n
All of the factions are expected to finish delivering their
\nviews on the reports of the three commissions on Saturday
\nmorning.<\/p>\n
Articles for endorsement: (1) Article 2 on composition of MPR
\n(unresolved), (2) Article 6A on runoff presidential elections, (3)
\nArticle 8 on the triumvirate to take over presidency, (4) Article
\n11 on DPR approval for war, (5) Article 16 on dissolution of
\nSupreme Advisory Council, (6) Article 23B on currency, (7) Article
\n23D on central bank, (8) Article 24 on judicial institutions, (9)
\nArticle 29 on religion (unresolved), (10) Article 31 on education,
\n(11) Article 32 on national culture, (12) Article 33 on national
\neconomy, (13) Article 34 on social welfare, (14) Article 37 on
\nconstitutional amendments, (14) Three clauses on transition
\nprovisions, (16) Two clauses on supplementary provisions.<\/p>",
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