Amendment the main focus at MPR session
Kurniawan Hari The Jakarta Post Jakarta
The fourth phase of the constitutional amendment process will likely become the major focus of attention from the public and legislators during the Annual Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), despite some other important issues.
This trend has been reflected in the proposals and input brought forth by various groups who have visited the MPR over the last three days. Nearly all of the delegations came to discuss the constitutional amendment, ignoring other important issues, such as the recommendations for an economic recovery that will also be deliberated in the 10-day session.
A group of veteran leaders met deputy Assembly speaker Jusuf Amir Feisal on Wednesday to voice their rejection of the current amendment process.
Head of the delegation Syaiful Sulun claimed that the current amendment process had deviated from the character of the nation that was defined by the founding fathers.
Earlier on Tuesday Muslim cleric Solahuddin Wahid, lawyer Adnan Buyung Nasution and former coordinating minister for political and security affairs Gen. (ret) Wiranto also raised their concerns over the amendment process.
Syaiful Sulun said that the adoption of a bicameral system was also a deviation from the Unitary Republic of Indonesia as it could lead to federalism.
There have been fears of Indonesia adopting a federal system and suspicion that the change was nothing more than a Western agenda, including the U.S.
"We can't apply American values here," said Syaiful, who was accompanied by former mines and energy minister Subroto.
Syaiful insisted that the amendment must be based on national character and warned the Assembly against creating a new constitution.
Meantime, activists with the Human Rights Advocacy Institute (LP-HAM) argued that the highest legislative body did not have the authority to carry out the amendment.
"If the MPR carries out the constitutional amendment or creates a new constitution, it is an abuse of power because Assembly members have been sworn in to remain loyal to the Constitution," said LP-HAM secretary general Hotma David Simanjuntak in a statement.
Chairman of the reform faction A.M. Luthfi acknowledged that the constitutional amendment would be the main focus of attention at the Annual Session.
"We will focus on four unsolved items at the Annual Session. We have to finish the amendment," said Luthfi, a member of the ad hoc committee for constitutional amendment (PAH 1).
The ad hoc committee for non-amendments (PAH 2) had prepared four decrees on a recommendation for a quick economic recovery, the modification of the Assembly's internal rules, the revocation of an MPR decree on the procedure for presidential and vice presidential elections and the agenda for the Annual Session in 2003.
The Annual Session will also hear progress reports by the President, the House of Representatives (DPR), the Supreme Court (MA), the State Audit Agency (BPK) and the Supreme Advisory Council (DPA).
After hearing the reports by those high state institutions, the 700-strong Assembly will then split into three commissions to specifically discuss the draft amendment, the four drafts of MPR decrees and the progress reports.
Each commission will then outline a summary to be submitted to a plenary meeting, which will later make the final decision.
Chairman of the National Awakening Party (PKB) Faction Yusuf Muhammad meanwhile added that the MPR members would also focus on the progress report by President Megawati Soekarnoputri.
The progress report, however, will not lead to an evaluation of the performance of the President over the past year. All 12 factions in the MPR agreed that they would not treat the progress report as an accountability speech.
Agenda of the Annual Session --------------------------------------------------------------- No. Days Agenda --------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Aug.1, 2002 Opening speech and progress reports
by President, DPR, DPA, MA, BPK 2. Aug.2, 2002 Internal meetings of MPR factions 3. Aug.3, 2002 General review by all factions and
the setting up of ad hoc commissions 4. Aug.4, 2002 Internal meeting of three commissions 5. Aug.5, 2002 Internal meeting of three commissions 6. Aug.6, 2002 Internal meeting of three commissions 7. Aug.7, 2002 Internal meeting of three commissions 8. Aug.8, 2002 Reports by three commissions 9. Aug.8, 2002 General view by all factions 10. Aug.10,2002 Closing --------------------------------------------------------------- Source: MPR