Assembly rejects PPP's motion on economy
Assembly rejects PPP's motion on economy
JAKARTA (JP): The People's Consultative Assembly asked the
minority faction the United Development Party (PPP) yesterday to
drop its motion for the establishment of a decree on a democratic
economy.
Wiranto, who chairs the Assembly committee in charge of
nonstate policy guidelines, said that all the five factions in
the Assembly agreed to give the Moslem-based faction time-out to
reconsider.
The PPP was also urged to defer to another committee, and have
its proposal included in the draft 1998/2003 State Policy
Guidelines.
The decision to give PPP time-out was reached during a lobby
among representatives of the factions presided over by Wiranto.
"None of us turns a blind eye to unsolved problems in our
economic development in the past 30 years... It requires an all-
out effort to improve in the future to meet the people's
expectations. The problem now is where the concept should be
presented," said Wiranto, who is also Army Chief of Staff.
PPP demanded the Assembly establish a separate and more
powerful decree on democratic economy to serve as legal footing
for the establishment of an equity-oriented national development
program.
It said that, on one hand, development had boosted the
country's income per capita, but on the other hand, it had caused
growing socioeconomic disparity.
Golkar, the Armed Forces and regional representatives factions
opposed the bid, saying that the State Policy Guidelines had
always included the spirit of a democratic economy.
The minority Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) faction
suggested that it join forces with PPP to campaign for Pancasila
democracy which included a democratic economy.
Debate on a democratic economy is also underway in the
committee in charge of policy guidelines, chaired by R. Hartono.
Wiranto hinted yesterday that PPP was ready to give up its
bid.
"During the lobby they said their major goal was demanding the
Assembly adopt its idea on a democratic economy in the whole
process of the national development program," Wiranto said.
PPP legislator Muhammad Buang said his faction would consider
Wiranto's offer for time-out, but insisted that it would battle
it out to campaign for such a principal matter like a democratic
economy.
"We are prepared to extend the deliberation until the general
session in March," he said.
Deliberation of PPP's draft will resume today.
The committee in charge of nonstate policy guidelines has so
far been undecided on drafts of amendment to general election
rules sponsored by PPP and PDI, and of Pancasila democracy
initiated by PDI.
Earlier yesterday, a group of Hindu students demanded the
Assembly support revocation of five political laws commonly
accused of discouraging democratization in the country.
The laws on mass organization, political parties, general
election, position of the parliament and the People's
Consultative Assembly and referendum were enacted in 1985.
Chairman of the Association of Hindu Students, K. Wiriana,
told deputy speaker of the Assembly Poedjono Pranjoto that
political reforms were needed to ensure practices that recognized
diversity and a fair recruitment process of political elite.
"If we want democratic order, we have to establish laws that
guarantee democratic values in society," Wiriana said.
"Our present political structure is not favorable enough to
the people's aspirations," he added. (amd)