Wanted: Partner for commission<\/p>\n
I Wayan Juniarta, The Jakarta Post, Jimbaran, Bali<\/p>\n
The National Awakening Party (PKB) is considering an alliance
\nwith other political parties and non-governmental organizations
\nto establish an independent constitutional commission.<\/p>\n
PKB Secretary General Muhaimin Iskandar said here on Friday
\nsaid that an alliance would have to be formed in case the
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly (MPR) refused to set up the
\ncommission.<\/p>\n
\"We want to set up a truly independent commission, which will
\nact as a public opinion-building force. It will also act as a
\npressure group on constitutional reform,\" he said on the
\nsidelines of the 3rd ASEF (Asia-Europe Foundation) Young
\nParliamentarians meeting.<\/p>\n
The ongoing Assembly session is scheduled to amend the 1945
\nConstitution.<\/p>\n
Non-governmental organizations based in Jakarta have been
\nstepping up pressure for the establishment of an independent
\nconstitutional commission, which is free from intervention by
\npoliticians.<\/p>\n
They are seeking a revision of the 1945 Constitution, which
\nthey say is outdated and full of rulings subject to varying
\ninterpretations -- something that had been manipulated by the New
\nOrder government for 32 years.<\/p>\n
Muhaimin was here to open the four-day meeting in his capacity
\nas deputy speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR). The
\nconference is being participated in by 48 people from 15
\ncountries.<\/p>\n
Muhaimin stressed that the constitutional commission was a
\nnecessity at this time, when the relationship between the
\ncountry's political parties was heavily dominated by a conflict
\nof interests.<\/p>\n
In such a politicized atmosphere, Muhaimin said, the
\ncommission could play a vital role as a mediator between those
\nparties.<\/p>\n
Muhaimin said the commission would represent public
\nparticipation in the amendment of the Constitution.<\/p>\n
Assembly leaders have so far insisted that the amendment of
\nthe Constitution is the Assembly's prerogative. The public may
\ncontribute ideas but should not be involved in the drafting
\nprocess.<\/p>\n
An alliance of non-governmental organizations called NGOs
\nCoalition for a New Constitution has maintained that politicians
\nshould not be involved in the amendment otherwise it would
\nreflect their (politicians') vested interests.<\/p>\n
\"The envisaged commission is needed to give the common people
\na chance to participate in the amendment process. We can learn
\nfrom the experiences of Thailand and other countries in reforming
\ntheir constitution,\" Muhaimin said.<\/p>\n
Separately, House Speaker Akbar Tandjung rejected the idea of
\nforming an independent commission, asserting that the task
\nbelonged to the MPR and the amendment was in process.<\/p>\n
\"I think we had better let the Assembly deliberate on this
\namendment in the current Annual Session,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/wanted-partner-for-commission-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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