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)