Threat of constitutional deadlock increases<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari and
\nFitri Wulandari
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
The threat of a deadlock in the fourth phase of constitutional
\namendments at the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) increased
\nin seriousness on Friday when a number of legislators revealed
\nthat the move to thwart the amendment was backed by nearly one-
\nthird of the MPR members.<\/p>\n
Siti Hartati Murdaya of the Interest Groups faction (FUG) said
\nthat 206 legislators had expressed opposition to the amendment.
\nBambang Pranoto of PDI Perjuangan, however, claimed the number
\nwas 222.<\/p>\n
\"The number will rise because we expect more support from
\nfellow legislators,\" Hartati told The Jakarta Post by phone.<\/p>\n
Both PDI Perjuangan and Interest Groups factions have strong
\nreasons to reject the amendment process, which puts them at a
\npolitical disadvantage.<\/p>\n
The FUG's presence at the Assembly will be scrapped if the
\nfourth amendment is endorsed in the ongoing Annual Session. PDI
\nPerjuangan, meanwhile, has campaigned for a delay in the
\nimplementation of direct presidential elections until 2009.<\/p>\n
Hartati said that of the 206 legislators, 104 were from PDI
\nPerjuangan, 59 from the Interest Groups, and another 43 from the
\nNational Awakening Party (PKB).<\/p>\n
Bambang Pranoto presented a different figure, saying of the
\n222 legislators, 107 came from his PDI Perjuangan, 63 from the
\nInterest Groups and 52 from PKB.<\/p>\n
Legislators continued their campaign to postpone the
\nconstitutional amendment at a plenary meeting on Friday.<\/p>\n
Syahrul Azwir Matondang of PDI Perjuangan warned the Assembly
\nthat the amendment process would backfire if they continued,
\nsaying the amendment was \"out of proportion\".<\/p>\n
Assembly Speaker Amien Rais expressed concern over the
\nsignificant number of MPR members opposing the amendment, saying
\nit was a very important issue that must be seriously taken into
\naccount.<\/p>\n
Amien added that if the number of legislators supporting the
\namendment was less than two-thirds of the total number of
\nAssembly members, the amendment process could not be continued.<\/p>\n
\"Let's wait and see,\" he said.<\/p>\n
According to the 1945 Constitution on amendments, an amendment
\ncan proceed only if it is supported by at least two-thirds of the
\nAssembly members.<\/p>\n
Based on data issued by the Assembly's Secretariat, the actual
\nnumber of MPR members is 674. It means that at least 448
\nlegislators have to attend a plenary meeting to endorse the
\nfourth phase of amendments.<\/p>\n
If the maneuver to block the amendment wins the support of
\nmore legislators, possibly from the 38-strong Indonesian
\nMilitary\/Police faction, the amendment will be stalled.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, PKB legislator Ida Fauziah denied claims that
\nmembers of the PKB faction supported the move to block the
\namendment.<\/p>\n
\"We must differentiate between the action of PKB and that of
\nother factions,\" Fauziah told the Post, referring to PDI
\nPerjuangan and Interest Groups factions.<\/p>\n
According to Fauziah, PKB members had signed a petition to
\npush for the setting up of a constitutional commission, not to
\nfoil the amendment.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Military\/National Police faction also
\nreaffirmed its stance to fully support the amendment and for the
\nestablishment of a constitutional commission.<\/p>\n
\"We still want the amendment process to continue,\" Slamet
\nSupriyadi, head of the TNI\/Police faction at the Assembly, told
\nreporters on Friday.<\/p>\n
He guaranteed that none of his faction members would sign the
\npetition to reject the amendment. \"I assure you that not one of
\nour members will sign (the petition) to reject the amendment.\"<\/p>\n
PDI Perjuangan faction members Jakob Tobing, Meilono Suwondo,
\nand JE Sahetapy expressed concern over the move to foil the
\nendorsement of the amendment, which could lead to a deadlock.<\/p>\n
Jakob said that PDI Perjuangan leader Megawati Soekarnoputri
\nhad repeatedly called on all faction members to support the
\nconstitutional amendment.<\/p>\n
\"There was a clear message for all members to continue with
\nthe amendment. I don't think this is a serious problem,\" Jakob
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Sahetapy, meanwhile, said the maneuver indicated that
\nlegislators were feigning intelligence and were ignoring the
\naspirations of others.<\/p>\n
Meilono had a different view, saying that the maneuver was a
\nresult from the indecisiveness of Megawati.<\/p>\n
\"She (Megawati) is so weak. She allows conflicting opinions to
\ndevelop,\" Meilono charged.<\/p>\n
Megawati's husband, Taufik Kiemas, is among the signatories to
\nthe petition against the amendment.<\/p>\n
--------------------------------------------------------------
\nNo. Factions Votes For amendment Against
\n---------------------------------------------------------------
\n1. PDI Perjuangan 175 68 107
\n2. Golkar 146 146 0
\n3. PPP 64 64 0
\n4. PKB 52 52 0
\n5. Reform 46 46 0
\n6. PBB 12 12 0
\n7. KKI 11 11 0
\n8. PDU 10 10 0
\n9. PDKB 5 5 5
\n10. Military\/Police 38 38 0
\n11. Interest Groups 63 0 63
\n12. Regional Reps 52 52 0
\n----------------------------------------------------------------<\/p>\n
Total 674 504 170<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/threat-of-constitutional-deadlock-increases-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }