Short-lived DPR says goodbye at deserted lunch<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The customary farewell hosted by President B.J.
\nHabibie for outgoing legislators this year turned out to be a
\nsomewhat cheerless half-empty affair.<\/p>\n
Only about half of the 500-member House of Representatives
\n(DPR) attended the luncheon in the State Palace grounds.<\/p>\n
A special marquee had been set up for the event. Little did
\nPalace officials know that it would only be half full.<\/p>\n
As many tables remained empty, in an unusual move, Palace
\nofficials warmly welcomed journalists to occupy the seats and
\nenjoy the lunch.<\/p>\n
The tardy arrival of several legislators delayed Habibie from
\ndelivering his speech by about 30 minutes.<\/p>\n
\"Let me convey my apologies to all members of the House for my
\nshortcomings or mistakes,\" said the President to his invited
\nguests, most of whom seemed more interested in the lunch than his
\nwords.<\/p>\n
Even House Speaker Harmoko, as he recounted the House's long
\nroad to reform, strayed away from politics, closing his address
\nwith quips about the importance of lunch.<\/p>\n
Friday's menu included Padang and Javanese cuisine and ice
\ncream.<\/p>\n
No reference was made in the formal proceedings of the
\nmounting death toll resulting from mass protests over House
\napproval of the controversial state security bill.<\/p>\n
After the lunch, Habibie shook hands with his guests.<\/p>\n
Several legislators were heard whispering in jest to each
\nother: \"Is a handshake alone enough to say goodbye?\"<\/p>\n
The President had originally planned to award the outgoing
\nlegislators several million rupiah each as an expression of
\ngratitude for their service. However a public uproar forced the
\ngovernment to shelve the proposal.<\/p>\n
Appeal<\/p>\n
The House quaintly ended its two-year term earlier on Friday
\nwith an appeal to new legislators to put public interests above
\nall else, and maintain a critical stance during formulation of
\nthe nation's laws.<\/p>\n
In his address to the House's last plenary session, speaker
\nHarmoko said the government had to have the courage to make
\nsubstantial changes to government-sponsored bills in order to
\navoid conflict and tension stemming from public discontent.<\/p>\n
\"The House's phenomenal stance to adopt such strict principles
\nwas visible in the deliberation of various bills we completed
\nrecently,\" Harmoko claimed.<\/p>\n
Harmoko proudly said that during its short term, the House
\npassed 69 bills. Most were sponsored by the government.<\/p>\n
The bills included one on human rights, the telecommunications
\nbill, the forestry bill, the press bill and the bill on Aceh's
\nspecial autonomy status.<\/p>\n
One bill which Harmoko lamented could not be passed in time
\nwas the oil and gas bill.<\/p>\n
He noted that the House had completed nearly 90 percent of the
\nbill's substance. \"It's a shame now that all that deliberation
\nwill probably go to waste\"<\/p>\n
Overall he expressed satisfaction at the proceedings of the
\nHouse.<\/p>\n
\"Although not optimal, the way the House has worked is worth
\nappreciating. Amid the dynamic reform drive which began rolling
\nin May last year, the House has produced a number of laws which
\nare in line with people's aspirations,\" Harmoko said.<\/p>\n
Harmoko, also speaker at the People's Consultative Assembly
\n(MPR), recollected the MPR November Special Session which
\nconfirmed the mandate given to B.J. Habibie to preside over the
\ncountry following Soeharto's resignation six months earlier.<\/p>\n
He failed to mention that the same MPR had unanimously
\nreappointed Soeharto as president for a sixth term.<\/p>\n
At the Special Session, the MPR endorsed two key decrees which
\nwere expected to justify legal measures against former president
\nSoeharto over his alleged corruption and power abuses during his
\n32 years in office. Investigations into the now ailing former
\nruler currently hang in the balance.<\/p>\n
Harmoko was one of the prominent political leaders who helped
\nouster his former patron Soeharto. He served under the former
\nstrongman as minister of information from 1983 to 1997. (amd\/prb)<\/p>",
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