Assembly campaigns for guidelines drafts

Assembly campaigns for guidelines drafts

JAKARTA (JP): All five factions in the People's Consultative
Assembly (MPR) began yesterday campaigns for their respective
drafts of state policy guidelines.

Given its majority position in the legislative body, Golkar
appears to have the upper hand in its effort to have its draft be
accepted by the body.

Not only does the ruling political organization hold 488 out
of the 1,000 seats in the Assembly, it also has strong allies in
the Armed Forces and the regional representatives factions which
have earlier stated their support for Golkar's draft, despite
having ones of their own.

Altogether, the trio of factions make up three-fourths of the
Assembly, more than enough to beat the minority factions -- the
United Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic
Party (PDI) -- should a vote be held on which draft to adopt.

Golkar spokeswoman Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana told a session of
the Assembly's ad hoc committee in charge of state policy
guidelines that Golkar's draft should be accepted as the body's
reference in drawing up the 1998/2003 development plan.

"Without any intention to discount other factions' drafts, we
recommend that the Assembly use our draft as a reference ...
Other factions can provide additional ideas so that we will
produce a new draft which reflects the agreement of all
factions," said Hardiyanti, President Soeharto's eldest daughter.

She said common acceptance of the Golkar-supported draft would
help the committee carry out its job smoothly.

The committee, led by Minister of Information R. Hartono, will
have until Jan. 22 to complete its work. The Assembly will
endorse the state policy guidelines in the next general session
in March.

Hardiyanti, better known as Tutut, said Golkar's draft had
accommodated another draft offered by the National Defense and
Security Council.

Chaired by the President, the council used to have its draft
accepted as a key reference in the deliberation on state policy
guidelines.

Golkar's proposal suggests, among other things, the
development of strategic industries in order to better compete in
the global market, the encouragement of fair and transparent
trade as well as the abolishment of monopolies, strict law
enforcement, the protection of human rights and the promotion of
clean government.

PPP secretary-general Tosari Wijaya said despite Golkar's bid,
the Moslem-based party would insist on promoting its own draft.

"Every faction is allowed to claim its draft as the best
because each of them has worked for years to draw up their
draft," he said.

Tosari, who represented PPP in the committee, said the
Assembly should be flexible in its deliberation, scheduled to
start today.

"All drafts are equally good. Our duty is to seek a compromise
of ideas which can benefit national interests," he said.

Another PPP representative, Muhammad Buang, said Golkar's
request did not indicate a dictatorship of the majority. "Every
faction has the right to make the same bid," he said. (amd)